Allamakee County Jail Task Committee receives introductory information at inaugural meeting

by Bob Beach

The first meeting of the Allamakee County Jail Task Committee was held Thursday, March 20 in the courtroom at the Allamakee County Courthouse. All of the 29 people in attendance were treated as members of the newly-formed committee and were welcomed by Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, who said that his purpose in forming the committee was not to "beat the drum" for the construction of a new jail, but to have a broad cross-section of county residents examine the facts objectively and eventually make a recommendation to the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors.
Mellick said that it is his duty as the County Sheriff to manage and operate the jail, but the Board of Supervisors is the owner of the jail itself. He said that he did not run for Sheriff with the objective of building a new jail, explaining that the closure of Makee Manor led to a closer examination of the future of the jail.
Mellick said that the Board of Supervisors has for quite some time been aware of deficiencies in the current jail, which are noted in annual inspections. He explained that the current jail does not meet State standards, but has been "grandfathered in" and allowed to remain open despite those deficiencies. However, he said that those deficiencies still expose the County to liability in the event of the injury or death of an inmate. He said that the primary concern regarding the jail is the safety of the inmates and the safety of deputies and staff.
Mellick said that when Makee Manor became available, the Board of Supervisors asked him to consider the building as a possible solution. However, Mellick said that after that possibility was looked at by the State jail inspector and a consultant hired by the County, it was determined that moving the jail to Makee Manor would not be feasible.
Mellick said that he felt that he had a duty to bring the issue to the people of the county and let them decide what should be done based on the County's budget and tax rates. He did note, however, that interest rates on bonds, which are currently very low, and construction costs would increase over time. He said that the assessments that have already been done will continue to be useful, whether a new jail is built in the near future or the distant future.
Mellick added that what is being discussed is not just a jail, but offices for the Sheriff's Department as well. He said that the current offices are overcrowded, utilizing every square inch of space. He also pointed out that any new facility would be expected to serve the needs of the County for 75 to 100 years, noting that the current jail was constructed in 1939.
Midwest Construction Consultants President John Hansen, the consultant hired by the County to evaluate the current jail facility and make recommendations regarding a new facility, said that his firm has completed 27 jails in Iowa since 1995. He said that the primary concern with any jail project is the safety of the staff and the safety of the inmates. He added that the Committee would be asked for input on all aspects of the project and that all suggestions made by the Committee would be given serious consideration.
When asked about a timeline for construction of a new facility, Hansen said that the initial phase of consideration would take around two months and that obtaining architects' drawings would take at least another two months after that. Assuming that a bond referendum would be necessary to fund the project, Hansen said that construction could begin within six months of the passage of the referendum. He estimated that it would be at least 2016 before the new facility would be ready for use.
After some further discussion, the Committee toured the current jail facility. The next meeting of the Jail Task Committee will be sometime in the first part of May.