By Rod Smith
Kalamazoo Gazette
ALLEGAN, Mich. —In a move he said was out of “desperation,” Allegan County’s sheriff suggested Wednesday that he was willing to lay off deputies to pay to build a new jail.
“I’m at a point where I’ve got to do something,” Sheriff Blaine Koops told the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, referring to a consultant’s report that said the jail had outlived its usefulness and was unsafe and unhealthy for inmates and staff.
“My ability to operate that facility is narrowing by the day,” Koops said.
The sheriff proposed a three-part ballot question in which voters would be asked to fund a jail outright, support a law-enforcement millage and divert money normally dedicated to law enforcement to build a jail, or reduce law-enforcement services to pay for jail construction.
Koops said he had discussed the situation with top-level command staff. “Today we are in front of you taking a stand and saying we’ve got to do this,” he told commissioners. “It’s going to be hard choices for the voting public, but it’s their choice to make.”
Commissioners made no decisions, however, electing to continue the discussion at their April 23 meeting.
The board for several years has been looking at building a jail that could house 400 inmates, but recently asked for a re-evaluation by Rod Miller of CRS Inc., of Gettysburg, Pa., who recommended a facility that can accommodate 322 inmates. He also recommended hiring another consultant to put together a jail plan that can be presented to county voters.
Commissioners informally decided to hire a consultant to draw up a floor plan to present to voters. They also informally decided to put some kind of proposal on either the November of February ballot. They expect to formalize those decisions next Thursday.
The current, 173-bed Allegan County Jail has experienced chronic overcrowding that has prompted early releases of prisoners, has been criticized as unsafe and has little room for rehabilitative programs. Discussions on replacing it started in 1992.
Copyright 2009 Kalamazoo Gazette