Jail study will be redefined

Cheyenne County Commissioners gave the OK on Monday for a team of consultants to redefine a feasibility study examining what a new county jail could look like.

The initial study, released earlier this year, was based on a proposed combined law enforcement complex that included space for the sheriff's office, police department and a new jail.

A rough estimate of such a facility was pegged around $16 million. Last month, commissioners discussed limiting the project to the highest priority – a new jail – to significantly reduce the cost.

Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson said on Monday morning that he'd contacted the consultants and asked what they'd charge for the additional work to modify the original study.

"Last week, I was able to get information on what it'd cost to redefine the goal," Jenson said. "Basically, what they've come back with, it's $1,500 to redefine [the study] to what you are requesting."

Commissioners unanimously approved the expenditure.

Jenson also provided the commissioners with draft diagrams, created by the consultants, depicting how the Cheyenne County Courthouse building could be enlarged to include a new jail.

One of the diagrams included a multi-level jail while the other was single story.

Jenson said the illustrations were very preliminary and only meant to determine if there was enough property on the courthouse grounds for an expanded jail.

"What we were looking at is if the footprint would fit what we have," he explained.

And based on the diagrams, it would, he added.

"We have the room to extend wherever you want to go with it," Jenson said.

Commission Chairman Darrell Johnson said he liked the idea of limiting the project to only a new jail.

"It's cost effective, it's getting better," he said.

Jenson explained once the study is revised and updated with the commissioner's new requirements, a cost estimate for the construction would be available.

A new jail would be able to hold 48 inmates and be expandable to house 60 if needed in the future.

The current jail holds 20 inmates, but if any major construction were undertaken, that number would be reduced to six because of additional jail standards implemented since the facility was constructed in 1967.

Commissioner Steve Olson asked if a new jail would be able to hold females.

"Yes," Jenson replied.

The current facility is unable to hold females because there isn't room to separate them from males.

During one week last month, the number of Cheyenne County inmates reached as high as 32. Since the jail can only accommodate 20 at one time, other counties are paid to house individuals arrested or facing charges here, which also entails transportation costs to retrieve those inmates for court appearances.

In the past seven years combined, those costs approached $1 million, Jenson said in an interview in June.

A new jail would not only efface those expenditures, but, if built large enough to accommodate the county's future needs, could provide income in the first few years by housing inmates from other counties – until Cheyenne County needs those beds, the sheriff has said.

While the project is in the beginning stages, Jenson and commissioners have said community input would be an important part of the process once accurate numbers and plans are available.