The Reno County Jail Committee met Tuesday evening and as expected County Commissioner Dan Deming gave an update on where things stand as far as purchasing about 10-acres from the Kansas Department of Corrections which is part of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility property, located at Severance and Blanchard. Deming says they’ve presented a formal proposal to Secretary of Corrections Ray Roberts, after several months of discussions.

He says any sale would be conditional on a price being set by an independent appraiser approved by both sides, and then approval of the overall jail plan and financed by voters in the county in the November general election. He estimated to us that the cost would be 20-to-25-thousand dollars.

He adds, that the land sale would require legislative approval with Roberts expected to discuss this proposal with Governor Sam Brownback’s office and the appropriate legislative committee in the near future.

The counties proposal according to Deming also calls for the two agencies to begin discussions of housing up to six work release state prisoners in the new county jail, something they appear interested in pursuing, considering they have similar agreements with other counties.

The land was originally donated to the state by Hutchinson interest in 1885 as an inducement to locate a state prison in Hutchinson. Deming says they paid nothing for the land, so wouldn’t be giving up any significant investment.

The privately owned land south of the current Reno County Jail Annex is also still being looked at because of potential construction savings of using perhaps 50-jail annex beds and not having to build as large of a new jail. He says the county is still awaiting architectural cost comparisons on additional construction and development cost comparisons on that site compared with the vacant HCF land.

He also told us that storm water retention requirements and moving utilities would be expensive, but they simply don’t know the savings involved in building 50- fewer beds. Until then, they don’t know which would be a better location cost wise.

Sheriff Randy Henderson has shown some concern for a proposal from Buhler School Officials over a proposed bond issue which could come to USD 313 voters next fall. Deming was asked if he is concerned over that prospect. He told us, not really because the school district proposal would use property tax, as opposed to sales tax. Deming also again reminded us that about 30% of the cost to build a new jail would come from those who visit Hutchinson and Reno County, while the rest would come from county tax payers.

The sales tax proposed for the jail would be a one quarter or 3/8’s of a cent for the funding of a new jail. Sheriff Henderson says with the 1/4 cent, that would mean tax payers would spend about 25-cents more for every 100-dollars of groceries bought or with the 3 / 8’s of cent, it would be about 38-cents for that same 100-dollars in groceries.

He says they had about 15-people toured the jail facility this past Sunday, and some were against building a jail going in, but seemed to re-think their position once they came out. They plan more tours on Sunday January 22nd.

The committee also decided to have the same group that decided on an architect look for a Manager at Risk for the project.

There will be another workshop with Dan Rowe with Treanor Architects on January 26, at the Reno County Courthouse, and with all of these meetings, the public is welcome to attend.