SCOTT COUNTY FACING RISK OF FEDERALLY MANDATED JAIL

SIKESTON -- Scott County officials worry that waiting to build a new jail may prove to be costly, especially if the wait results in an expensive federal mandate.

Scott County residents, county officials and city officials representing Sikeston and Miner met at the Sikeston City Hall Friday to discuss the issue.

"Everybody in the state has had to build their own jail," said Martin Priggel, presiding commissioner.

"It's just something we need to do for the safety of the citizens of Scott County," said Priggel. "We just don't have enough jail cells or the money to pay other counties to house them for us."

James A. Lichty, whose company Archetype Design Group has built over 50 detention centers, confirmed that although some recent jail constructions had money made available through pre-purchased boarding agreements with the U.S. Marshall service, no grants have financed a jail in Missouri for at least the last two years.

Even with the poor conditions of the jail, Sheriff Bill Ferrell explained only he, as sheriff, or a federal judge has the authority to close it.

If the sheriff closes the jail, the county will be overburdened with the cost of housing all prisoners at neighorboring facilities.

If a federal judge closes it, however, a "jail master" whose salary will be paid by the county will be appointed to order and oversee the construction of a jail as he or she feels fit.

"Instead of a $4.5 million jail we'll have an $8 million jail," said Ferrell, which would be funded through a personal property tax.

The sheriff also said he was against renting beds out to fund construction. "We're not in the jail business," said Ferrell.

Ferrell explained he did not want to make money from other peoples' misery, he just wanted to ensure the safety of the people who must be locked up.

"We're not able to classify prisoners now," said Ferrell, summing up the biggest problem facing county jailers.

With no cells to spare or any sort of "bullpen" area, jailers are often unable to separate traffic offenders from "the worst of the worst," said Ferrell.

With the necessity of a new jail becoming clear to county residents, county officials and the Public Safety Committee have determined a sales tax to be the best option for construction funding as it keeps the decisions in the hands of the citizens -- both in the April 4 election and eight years from now when the sales tax will automatically end. "This way the people are in charge," said Priggel.

The "sunset clause" ending the tax after eight years is "embedded in the ballot question," said Gregory A. Bricker, senior vice president of George K. Baum and Company which would arrange the construction financing.

David Friedman, president of the Public Safety Committee, said that even as a retail merchant he would prefer the passage of the half-cent sales tax in April over a federally-mandated property tax to finance a new jail.

"I think it's very important that we pass it," said Friedman. By doing the jail on their own initiative, Scott County residents can "build it the way we want it," he said.