Without enough detention officers to run it, there is no point in opening the now-completed $9 million Towaoc Detention Center, tribal officials say.

But thanks to a Ute Mountain tribal council directive that opens hiring to non-Indian applicants, the problem may be overcome soon, jail officials said yesterday.

"We’re hoping it will start bringing in more applications because we still have quite a few positions to fill," said Keith Elliot, detention supervisor for the tribe.

There is simply not a big enough pool of Native Americans out there to fill all of the jobs for the center’s needs. So on Aug. 14, the tribal council suspended for the time being its Indian-preference hiring requirement in order to expand the applicant base.

Positions still available include detention officers, clerks, dispatchers, food-service workers and other jail specialists.

Salaries for detention officers, which are in most demand, begin at $26,000 per year, plus benefits.

Applicants must meet the requirements for federal employees, and have no felony criminal record. Training is provided by the BIA.

So far, three of 23 positions have been filled. Elliot said that six more applicants are on deck, which, if approved, would be enough to begin operations for the adult portion of the 78-bed facility.

A certificate of occupancy is expected to be approved by next week, at which point the BIA, which runs the Ute Mountain reservation’s law enforcement, can begin moving into the 40,000-square-foot, medium-security detention center.

The BIA’s law-enforcement division will relocate from its current cramped quarters to offices within the new complex.

The tribe has long-term plans to consolidate all justice departments by expanding the facility to include the tribal criminal courts system, now located at the nearby BIA headquarters building in Towaoc.

Tribal dispatch control for police, fire, ambulance and wildlife management will also be relocated and upgraded at the new center.

Expanded rehabilitation services will have a bigger role, too. Inmates will have access to GED courses, counselors, classes on drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention and behavior reform.

Officials predict that the majority of clients will be involved in some sort of work-release program.

Security, infrastructure and design are all top-notch, said project superintendent Vergil Gray of Weminuche Construction.

"We’re very proud of the job we did. Now we’re moving full force to build your jail," he said, speaking of the county’s $5.5 million, 110-bed detention center being built in Cortez. Weminuche was the low bidder for that job.

The new Towaoc jail, built using federal funds, is designed to house adults and juveniles, male and female, with each in distinct, separate quarters.

Non-violent offenders will also be separated from violent ones, and there are sobriety holding cells and a sweat lodge for inmates.

Currently the tribe must transport juveniles to a detention center in Gallup, N.M., which is costly and time-consuming.

Often the BIA sends officers to pick up a juvenile in Gallup or Grand Junction for a court appearance in Towaoc, only to drive them back the next morning.

Frequently the process is repeated the following day.