County officials are taking the first step toward replacing the long-criticized county jail downtown with an addition at the workhouse at Silverdale.
The County Commission is set to approve next Wednesday a $150,000 contract for the PFM government financial consulting firm to begin working out the details.
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said he believes the move will save the county millions of dollars and rid it of a costly liability.
He said, "It will resolve all the issues we have with the jail downtown."
County Mayor Coppinger said, "How would you like to be holding a meeting in your district on putting in a new jail? Nobody wants a jail in their neighborhood, but the people have become accustomed to it being there."
He said the county has adequate room at Silverdale for an addition of 600 beds or more. The downtown jail has 508 beds.
He said the new facility would include 26 beds for juvenile offenders.
The county mayor said it is not a given that the contract to operate the enlarged workhouse would stay with the Corrections Corporation of America, which has been in charge of the workhouse for 32 years. Its current four-year contract runs out next April. PFM plans to have at least the initial phases of its report ready by then.
County Mayor Coppinger said he has discussed the idea with affected parties, including the sheriff, the judges, the district attorney, the public defender and city police. He said all are in agreement on moving ahead.
He said, though a private firm will operate the enlarged facility, that "the sheriff will still be in charge of the jail."
He said the judges are requesting that a courtroom of similar quality as at the Courts Building downtown be included at the workhouse.
Currently, workhouse inmates are transported to the jail, though some have arraignments via video conferencing. Jail inmates are taken through a secure area to the Courts Building across Cherry Street.