New jail slated to open in October

New jail slated to open in October

July 7, 2001

SEEN FROM Empire Street, the new Montezuma County Jail is nearing completion. Approved by voters last November, the 110-bed detention center will host a grand opening in October.

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

On schedule and on budget, Montezuma County’s $5.5 million detention center is nearing completion.

The 110-bed facility was approved by voters in November 1999, and is being paid for through a 0.45-cent sales-tax increase that will sunset 20 years after its inception. It will replace the current jail, which has been plagued by overcrowding, safety and security issues.

Those problems should disappear in October, when Sheriff Joey Chavez plans to move inmates and his staff of 50 into the new building on the north side of Empire Street.

The 41,000-square-foot jail and the remodeling of the old detention facility are designed to ensure officer and inmate safety, and to better handle all types of offenders — from violent felons to those just needing to sober up for the night.

"What the taxpayers got for $5 million is really impressive," Chavez said during a press tour Friday. "I give credit to Weeminuche Construction, Archetype Design and all the subcontractors for making it happen so smoothly and keeping costs down."

In contrast, La Plata County voters last November rejected a mill-levy increase to fund a $24.6 million, 220-bed detention facility.

Situated well off the corner of Empire Street and Mildred Road, the new jail with its earth-tone stucco finish blends in with the open space of the nearby Carpenter Natural Area.

Inside, state-of-the-art technology provides tight security.

"There is no breaking out of here," laughed Chavez, in reference to past escapes from the current facility, including one through a flimsy outside wall that lacked standard steel re-bar.

A juvenile wing will save the sheriff’s office expensive transportation costs associated with shipping those detainees to juvenile-detention centers in Durango or Grand Junction.

Nine holding cells used during booking allow officers to process suspects more efficiently. The extra space allows detention officers to avoid housing in the same area accused and convicted criminals with widely differing proclivities for violence.

Currently, there is only one holding cell for booking purposes.

"Before, we just did not have the room to house and hold everybody the way it should be done. It’s a real liability," Chavez said. "Now we will have much more control and it is safer for everyone."

The current detention facility routinely holds 110 or more inmates, more than double what it was designed for.

Once it is vacant, the old jail will be remodeled with a $350,000 energy-impact grant to hold community-corrections and work-release inmates for the city of Cortez and the county.

It will also have a much-needed "drunk tank." Currently there is not one available, leading to absurd situations where drunks seeking solace from the weather, or themselves, have been at times been driven to commit a petty crime in order to gain safe shelter and a hot meal.

Chavez expects the remodeling to be complete by spring 2002. Once on-line, community-corrections and work-release inmates will be housed there, freeing up 20 or so beds at the new facility.

But it will still be tight.

"We will be already near capacity once we move in, but the difference is that we will have the building and security to handle it safely," Chavez said. "And there will be some relief when the old jail is ready to move those clients in."

Designers of the new jail allowed for more pre-fabricated modules, housing 16 cells, or up to 32 inmates each, to be added on with relative ease. The two additional wings will allow the inmate capacity to reach double what it is now, or around 210 beds.

Chavez speculated that an expansion would be needed in the next two or three years. Designers said it would cost between $1 million and $3 million per additional wing.

Other features of the new jail:

• Expanded medical facilities with a full-time nurse on location. Currently, guards must dole out medication, also a potential liability.

• More office space for sheriff’s and jail administration.

• More interview rooms.

• An expanded kitchen.

• High-ceiling garage doors to accommodate prison buses.

• More secure, ID card-controlled evidence and armory rooms.

• An expanded, fireproof records department to be managed by the sheriff’s office, rather than jointly with Cortez.

• Upgraded computer, phone and video-surveillance systems.

• Larger "day rooms" for inmates.

"No change orders so far," said County Administrator Tom Weaver of the project. "What’s nice is that the voters approved only so much money for this."

There will likely be one or two change orders when all is said and done, said project superintendent Vergil Gray, which is typical for such a large job. But working out problems internally, rather than before government boards, made the building process work more smoothly among the dozens of subcontractors on the job.

Tricky engineering was needed, Gray said, to accommodate a high water table under the basement and to deal with difficult access to the main sewer line. A sump was installed for the former. The latter required a lift station to be built.

"I’d say it is about 80 percent complete. This is where I really earn my pay — making sure all the million little details come together."

Officials praised the cooperation between the city and county regarding the jail. In exchange for 12 acres of county land, the city agreed to construct and pave an extension of Park Street and install a water line. The city constructed the expansion of Driscoll Street for access to a business park planned for eight acres between the two street extensions. The other four acres will remain as open space.

"That’s what I call good government cooperation and it saved taxpayer money," said Cortez City Manager Hal Shepherd.

The business park will be situated in front of the jail as a way to obscure it from public view. Access to future businesses will be off Driscoll and Park streets. Shepherd said they are seeking a buyer to develop the park. But he emphasized plans that are industrial or retail in nature are not being considered.

"We’re looking for offices, so it matches with the residential area and government business already there," Shepherd said. "The goal is to create family-income, professional jobs, like for example a central office, medical or insurance. The city parks there are a real asset for employees, and the hospital nearby makes it conducive for health-related fields."

Shepherd said the "highest best use" will be considered as a priority for the park, with adjustments made from there. Plans will go through the regular city planning process, at any rate.