ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
It has been close to a year since negotiations got under way to locate a regional jail in Dublin, and nobody had ever lodged an objection.
The New River Valley Regional Jail Authority bought an option on a 25-acre tract in the Dublin Industrial Park and, three months ago, Dublin Town Council agreed to increase it to 27.79 acres to better fit the architectural plans for the 240-bed jail. Again, nobody protested.
So it came as a shock to Dublin officials Thursday night when more than 50 people crowded into a standing-room-only hearing to say they are against the project being in the town.
The protests caused council to delay action on a zoning change necessary for the jail. Mayor Benny Keister will schedule a special meeting next week for the decision.
Much of the objection came from residents of Staff Village, just outside town but close to the jail site.
"They didn't know about this. They didn't know that it was even considered putting a jail in this area," said Arnold Edwards, who lives in Staff Village.
Only about seven of those crowded into the Free Memorial Library meeting room to object to the jail actually lived in the town limits.
Diana Joyce, who is concerned about property values, said the proposed jail affects nearby county residents more than townspeople. "We buy all our groceries in Dublin. We're in Dublin as much as anybody," Edwards added.
What brought them out was a joint public hearing between Town Council and the Dublin Planning Commission to revise the industrial park zoning to allow jails.
"An industrial park is for industry. And a prison falls far short," Al Wayne said. Advised that a prison is different from a jail, he said, "It's still a correctional facility with criminals in it, no matter what you call it."
Nobody mentioned that the jail authority has already purchased the 27-plus acres for $166,740, with the understanding that the necessary zoning change would be a routine matter. Until Thursday night, Dublin officials thought it would be.
Councilman Benny Skeens said he and Keister had visited a regional jail in an industrial park in Winchester near a residential area. They talked to municipal officials, representatives of nearby industries and local residents and got "nothing but good comments," he said.
"I was totally against it before I went. After I toured it, I really have no problem with it," Skeens said. "The crime rate is down. The property value actually went up."
"I was really impressed with it. We talked to citizens, we talked to people who ran the jail, we talked to other industries," Keister said. "It draws some industry industries that provide services to the jail."
Councilman Dave Farmer said the $24 million building would immediately create some 100 jobs, and provide spin-off jobs in the community. "We think that it'll be an economic boost," he said. As for safety considerations, he said, "If I'm going to commit a crime, I'm not going where a bunch of policemen are coming and going."
Councilman Sam Gregory reminded many people in the group that, several years ago, they had also protested the town wanting to put a housing development near Staff Village. Asked at the time if they would prefer a prison, he said, many answered yes.
"If we had listened to some folks, we would not have the Burlington property, we would not have a new municipal building going up, we would not have zoning," Keister said.
After several hours, the town Planning Commission left to meet in another part of the library building. "I think the jobs and the spin-off jobs from this are going to be very important to us," said Skeens, the council representative to the commission.
But Skeens said he hoped council would make no immediate decision, especially because two members - David Stanley and Alden Hankla - were not at the meeting. "I think it's very important that we listen to these people."
"It's not like no one knew that this was going on," commission Chairwoman Patsy Akers said.
"It does create a very stable work force, because they're always going to be there," said commission member Dallas Cox. He pointed out that the commission could only give advice, which the Town Council could accept or ignore.
The five commission members present - one was absent and Skeens had to return to the council meeting - voted unanimously to recommend the zoning change.
Skeens then recommended that no immediate decision be made, and that the mayor call a special meeting after Town Council members have had more time to talk with community residents on how they felt about the project. "Until tonight, we were really under the impression that this was a favorable deal," he said.
Work needs to start quickly on architectural plans if the project is to get started by March, and the jail now has nowhere to go but the Dublin site. A delay could jeopardize its 50 percent state construction funding. "We're under the gun right now," said Jack Murphy, with architects Thompson & Litton.
Although Pulaski County would provide the largest number of prisoners for the jail, said Assistant Pulaski County Administrator Peter Huber, prisoners will also come from Giles, Bland and Grayson counties and the city of Radford. Other counties such as Wythe, Floyd or Carroll have been given until Nov. 1 to decide if they want to buy into the project.
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Councilman Dave Farmer said the $24 million regionalby CNBjail facility would immediately create some 100 jobs, and provide
spin-off jobs in the community.