By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Commissioners received two options for a new or improved Detention Center facility during their meeting on Monday. Option one would involve retention of the south or newest side of the existing jail and stretching north for the rest of the bkock. There would be 162 beds. The second option with 188 beds would run east to the juvenile dtetention center. Ninth Street would be closed at that location and both options would require finding additional parking.
Shawn Harding of HMN Architects said the commission wanted an option looking at the existing site. "So after evaluating the building and determining that the two older portions had structural issues that had problems that were just insurmountable we kept the south, newer addition as the anchor. " They then planned all new space to the north and tried to incorporate spaces requested by the Sheriff's Department that would be more staff efficient.
Option two would include the current parking lot between the County Office Building, the Junction City Police Department building and the existing jail. "What that does is displace some parking. We thought we could recoup that if we tear down the old jail." The administrative portion of the structure would separate the juvenile facility from adult housing, " said Harding. There would be an alley between the two buildings.
Harding explained that the second option does include closing a portion of Ninth Street and there would need to be a determination on a method of making a dropoff to satisfy the current police department facility and a receiving area for the new jail.
County officials are not close to making any final decisions right now. Commissioner Trish Giordano said this will be a large project. She had one suggestion. "Maybe having some public involvement would be appreciated because this is going to be a huge undertaking."
Giordano noted that during the remodel housing of inmates would have to be considered, and what would the County do with the employees for an 18-monyh period. Construction design would take an estimated five months and the construction 16 months. Harding estimated that the facility could be completed and up and running in the 2029 - 2030 time frame
Commission Chairman Keith Ascher commented,"This going to take some real thinking through."
No cost estimate is available right now but it could be expected to be in the millions. Bond or sales tax elections would be a strong possibility.