Jail problem

Lincoln County Commissioners are struggling through a contentious problem with the county jail.

They have worked, with a specially appointed task force, for a couple of years now on a plan to remodel the jail to buy time before a new facility could or should be built. In addition, they wanted to take steps to make county dispatch, crammed in a small corner of the Sheriff's Department office space, both safer and more efficient.

Estimated costs failed to match the actual construction bids received so the county is heading back to the drawing board.

The county hasn't been sued yet. They haven't received a firm court order to clean up the problem in the jail. But it's only a matter of time when you have a facility capable of handling 25-30 inmates that has been housing as many as 42.

A similar problem existed in Glacier County where inmates were laying on the floor and sleeping next to toilets. They went to the voters with a $2.25 million bond issue over a 20-year period. Cost to the taxpayers was calculated at just over $13 a year for property valued at $50,000.

Lincoln County officials have estimated the cost to build a new jail structure, a law enforcement facility, at about $5 million.

Consider this, not too long ago, the county commissioners in Mobile, Ala., were fined $2 million by the courts for failing to comply with a court order to reduce the incarcerated population or improve the facility.

That's not a position we want to reach.

That money is better spent on building a new facility or remodeling an old one than being paid out in fines or lawsuit settlements.

The commissioners recognize the potential liability and a lawsuit's needless cost to taxpayers. They should be commended for their efforts, as well as the task force's efforts.

But they need more help. County residents should provide them with input on whether or not they should seek a mill levy. Doing nothing is not an option.

At this point the county is being prudently reluctant to move in the direction of a mill levy because of yet another mill closing in Eureka.

But the fact remains the county's existing jail facility has become inadequate and as a result the taxpayers face a certain liability exposure. The courts, either a judge or a civil jury, won't care about the financial health of the county's economy when they return with a verdict or ruling.

This is a serious problem for the county. - Roger Morris