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County might begin first phase of jail expansion

JANESVILLE — The Rock County Sheriff's Office is moving forward with plans to improve the jail with a new booking room, remodeled medical facility and maintenance projects.

The first phase of the $56.5 million jail expansion could cost $8.46 million, said Jeff Smith, county finance director. County sales taxes will pay for the project.

Other plans for a larger jail remain on hold because alternative programs have reduced the jail population, Sheriff Bob Spoden said.

"We're not really looking at doing any kind of expansion. This is more of a renovation and an upgrade to aging systems," he said. "It is just part of the process for maintenance and upkeep."

The new booking room and sally port are needed to safely transport inmates between the jail and the Rock County Courthouse, Spoden said.

The old booking room will be remodeled into an updated medical facility large enough to accommodate and separate men and women, he said.

Other work such as waterproofing the foundation, replacing the roof and updating electronic equipment are basic necessities for the older building, Spoden said.

The county collected $7.8 million in sales taxes in 2008 for the project, Smith said, and it is budgeted to collect another $3.9 million in 2009.

"There should be sufficient funding," he said. "We already have more than that."

Programs such as electronic monitoring, Workenders and Community RECAP have reduced the need for a larger jail, Spoden said.

In 2005, the jail housed an average of 516 inmates in Rock County, 25 inmates in other counties and 11 inmates in alternative programs.

Three years later, the jail averaged 493 inmates in Rock County, zero in other counties and 154 in alternative programs.

The jail's rated capacity is 525 inmates.

"With the success that we've had, you're not looking at a $60 million new jail," Spoden said. "You can't build your way out of these jail overcrowdings."

The county paid The Samuels Group of Wausau $35,000 to design the five-phase expansion plan. It was the most recent in 10 years of studies and plans at a cost of $1.7 million.

Two county board committees have approved soliciting design firms to develop plans for Phase 1. The county board still must approve soliciting designs and then must approve bids for construction.

If approved, construction could begin this year and finish after 18 months, Spoden said.