Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010057
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Giles and Grayson counties and Radford also have agreed to be part of the authority. Floyd County's participation is still up in the air. Tazewell County has withdrawn from the project.
But Pulaski County's participation was a key to the effort continuing. Although the state does allow as few as three localities to enter regional jail projects, Pulaski would have nearly half the prisoners in the present region. Pulaski County is also supposed to be the location of the regional jail.
On an application for state money, the localities listed the Pulaski County Corporate Center near Dublin as a proposed site for the jail. But Assistant County Administrator Peter Huber said that was simply because the county owns that property and a possible site had to be listed for the state.
``I don't think there's any intention to put it into the industrial park,'' county Board of Supervisors Chairman Jerry White said at the board's meeting Monday night. He said a more remote site would likely be found.
Several supervisors noted that, since Pulaski County has a zoning ordinance, it can control where or even if a regional jail is located within its borders.
The supervisors voted 4-1 to join the authority. Supervisor Bruce Fariss voted no, citing concerns over the location - he thought too many people would object to it being near their property - and because Pulaski County would provide nearly half the prisoners but have only one representative on the authority.
Even Fariss agreed that a regional jail would be to Pulaski County's advantage, financially. So did Sheriff Ralph Dobbins.
If the participating localities do not fill the regional jail, Dobbins said, there would be no trouble renting space for state or federal prisoners. ``The federal government pays good money to keep inmates, and I wish Pulaski County had the space to keep them,'' he said.
State funding for the project is scheduled to go before the 1996 General Assembly. Construction could get under way by 1997.
The authority would provide its part of the funding through a Rural Economic & Community Development (formerly the Farmers Home Administration) loan, which would be repaid by the per diem costs from localities housing prisoners there. The alternative for the localities is costly renovation or expansion of their own local jails.
Tazewell County, which would have been the most distant partner, is looking into regional jail possibilities with its neighboring counties. Huber said its dropping out might not be a bad thing, since transportation costs to and from Tazewell would have been high.
``The problem's not going away. The inmates are going to be there. It's just the way we deal with them,'' White said. ``At this point, based on what information we have, it does appear to be the best option.''
In other business Monday night, the supervisors received nominations for the School Board seats held by Carolyn Brown and Lewis Pratt. The incumbents were nominated for second terms, although those terms will last only until November when the county will switch to direct election of School Board members.
White said the supervisors would make the two appointments March 13 ``and I don't think that will be too much of a surprise to anyone who that will be.'' The board can appoint only from those nominated.
The supervisors approved $1,600 to aid Commissioner of Revenue Maynard Sayers in assessing water craft.
The money will help cover computerized assessment of the more than 3,000 water craft registered in the county and on the Game and Inland Fisheries report.
by CNB