Quorum Court Approves Proposed Jail Site

BY MELANIE BUCK –
Polk County Deputy Sheriff Scott Sawyer gave a presentation to the Polk County Quorum Court at their March 24 monthly meeting, reporting that the Jail Commission met last week and have chosen ‘Property #1’ for the proposed location of the almost $10.9 million jail facility. The new jail will be located on South Reine Street, in Mena, behind Papa’s Mexican Cafe and Mena Tire, if the two proposed ‘jail tax’ measures pass in the May 12 special election.
Justice of the Peace Basil Kesterson said the Jail Commission, “weeded out the best way we could,” when it came to choosing the best location out of three proposed sites. Sawyer explained that utilities are already in place and only a small amount of dirt work will be needed to prep the site for construction. Sheriff Mike Godfrey had said in previous meetings that $400,000 was budgeted for the purchase of a site and that they weighed that figure on the high side. ‘Property #1’ is still in the negotiations process but is expected to cost around $225,000, much lower than the budgeted amount.
The Quorum Court approved the site location and made a motion to authorize Sheriff Godfrey and County Judge Brandon Ellison to enter into negotiations and write a provisional contract with the land owner. The provision in the contract would be the contingency of both tax measures passing.
The first of two measures to be voted upon are a permanent ¼ cent Sales and Use Tax for the purpose of an additional source of revenue to be used to acquire, construct, improve, expand, equip, furnish, operate and maintain new or existing jail and law enforcement facilities, including any necessary land acquisition and utility, road and parking improvements related thereto or in support thereof and to pay and secure the repayment of bonds approved by the voters and issued by the County from time to time to finance jail and law enforcement facilities and facilities related thereto or in support thereof (“Jail and Law Enforcement Bonds”).
The second measure would levy a new ¾ cent Sales and Use Tax for the purpose of retiring bonds used to construct the new jail. The ¾ cent tax would be used for “a new jail, sheriff’s office, arraignment room, 911 dispatch center, and administrative offices related to law enforcement and any necessary land acquisition and utility, road and parking improvements related thereto and in support thereof.” The bonds would not exceed the voter-authorized amount of $10.9 million.
Justice of the Peace Jim Neugent wants to remind the public that if the tax measures don’t pass and the current jail is shut down, it would cost the county an estimated $40,000 per month in transportation costs to transports prisoners to outside locations.
According to Godfrey, the current jail is over 30 years old and is no longer meeting state standards, even citing that the last inspection was “not favorable.” Godfrey explained that several jails in Arkansas have already been shut down, “and it won’t be long before they shut down ours.”
Godfrey has described the new jail as “not better … just large enough to house the inmate population.” Godfrey proposed a new 100-bed pod system design that would also include the Sheriff’s Office as well as dispatch, a small courtroom suitable for hearings, infirmary, and a 309 Depository. The 309 Depository would be a possible reimbursable program from the State of trustees that are not from the area and he suspects would improve turnover.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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