Jail project moves forward

Legislators impressed with Warren County facility

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — Legislator Kathy LaBuda said the jail in Warren County was “a beautiful facility.” LaBuda, a member of the committee overseeing the development of the new Sullivan County Jail, traveled with fellow lawmaker Leni Binder and commissioner of public works Robert Meyer to Lake George in Warren County, to get a look at the relatively new jail in that community.

The Rochester-based engineering and architectural firm LaBella Associates, PC coordinated the planning and construction of that jail, and has been hired to do the same in Sullivan County.

Meyer said the construction of the facility came in on time and under budget. He said a modular system was used; the cells were pre-cast in Georgia and shipped to the site.

The cost of the 154-bed jail was about $22 million.

The New York State Commission of Corrections has asked Sullivan County to build a 400-bed facility, which is expected to be more expensive. No budget figures are being mentioned at this point, but two years ago lawmakers speculated that the figure could easily be more than $50 million.

Meyer said LaBella staff members were currently collecting input from the sheriff, the jail administration office and the department of public works about their needs regarding the new jail. Information will also be gathered from other stakeholders, such as the district attorney’s office, judges and legal aid staffers.

Binder said that while the Warren County jail opened in 2004, the county has already outgrown the facility and has been forced to pay to house inmates outside of Warren County. She said Sullivan County lawmakers should not make the same mistake.

Legislator Jonathan Rouis, however, warned against being too ambitious and planning for a facility that the county could not reasonably afford.

County manager David Fanslau said the county needs “a sound fiscal house before going to the bond market” to raise the funds to pay for the jail. He said he would be receiving a report from a consultant in mid-November as to what kind of bond the county could sustain.