Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410100044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The regional jail committee also is inviting local government representatives, law enforcement officials and others from the region.
As now planned, the jail would serve the city of Radford and counties of Pulaski, Giles, Floyd, Grayson and Tazewell. Carroll and Wythe counties took part in earlier planning but have dropped out.
The jail has been in the planning stages for several years, but plans had to be complete this year in order for the project to qualify for 50 percent state funding. The question now is whether the state will provide its share at the start of the project, or if the localities must borrow the entire amount needed and be reimbursed.
The regional jail committee will try to persuade the legislators to push for the state to provide its money up front, since borrowing the larger amount will mean greater interest costs for both the localities and state. The money will be borrowed from the Farmers Home Administration.
At the meeting with the legislators, the committee will outline the overall jail plan, explain how the localities and state will share financing, and provide a construction schedule.
The committee met Friday and reviewed its jail plans, which were submitted to the state Department of Corrections last month.
Bill King, representing Thompson and Litton, the project's architects and engineers, said the department will not review the plans until its Nov. 9 meeting.
Although the jail is planned for 360 prisoner beds initially, it would be built so that the number could easily be expanded to 600.
King said the planners were able to lower site costs, since the location has shifted to Pulaski County from Carroll County, which lacked water, sewer and other utilities.
by CNB