Construction on the new Wasatch County administration building is underway. Next up: a three-phased Wasatch County jail upgrade.  Assistant County Manager Heber Lefgren said the three-phased process will be spread out over the next five to 10 years. The upgrades will specifically address safety concerns, according to Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby. That includes a renovation of the jail’s control room, where deputies spend most of their working time.  Lefgren presented a growth assessment to the Wasatch County Council on April 8. That’s when officials approved the use of county funds for the project. There will be no tax increases to account for the dollars spent.  The jail renovation may be tacked on to the current courthouse expansion project. The courthouse renovation will be finished by the end of this summer.  “Council has authorized the work, but we do have the option of tying it to the existing courthouse expansion project because, again, there is part of the courthouse expansion project that does have upgrades to some systems, not all of it,” Lefgren said.  A total of $1 million was set aside in the general fund for this phase of the jail renovation project. That won’t cover the total cost, which will amount to approximately $2.3 million, Lefgren said.  “We’ve done enough of the due diligence to identify that the price is tied to the market. And so I think that while we recognize it’s a large dollar amount … I believe we did our due diligence to ensure that the price is at fair market value,” Lefgren said.  The needs assessment presented to the County Council indicated that the county jail is functionally at capacity today and would need to be expanded to continue providing services to the state. Key space utilized for the Sheriff’s Office operations is currently at or over capacity. That includes evidence storage, patrol work areas and briefing spaces.  There are also safety concerns. That includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that have reached the end of life, and evidence processing and storage areas lack adequate security. Shared entry points for public and staff apparently pose security risks, and the control station has safety issues, including obstructed sight lines and unsecured operating platforms.  Rigby said the renovation is long overdue. The jail was first constructed in 1995, which means that several upgrades are needed to meet “today’s standards,” according to Rigby. “(The corrections division) is dealing with a facility that is more than 30 years old, and it’s in great need of utility updates and other kinds of updates, and so we’re grateful for the patience of our volunteers that come back there to help in an old facility,” Rigby said. “This is just the next phase of construction that we’ve got to do for public safety in Wasatch County.” Rigby said the renovations for some spaces will benefit the inmates as well as Sheriff’s Office deputies.  “For instance, we have one meeting place in the jail where those who are incarcerated can come together and either do school together or take a class together, or worship their religion together, lots of different kinds of treatment programs that go on, and we only have one meeting space for them,” Rigby said.  He said that makes it hard for programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to operate efficiently. Rigby added that the growing population in Wasatch County correlates with the increased number of inmates. He said the lack of upgrades, combined with the increased number of those incarcerated, has become “difficult.” “The No. 1 thing (the renovation) does is that it enhances safety for corrections officers and also then inmates because it keeps them safe from each other,” Rigby said. “But then the second piece or purpose has to do with programming and offering more services to those that are incarcerated and those that are leaving, that we’re trying to transition out so that it’s not such a big leap for them when they have spent a year with us, or whatever it might have been, and now they’re being released.” The three-pronged approach to the renovation includes first addressing immediate system and security needs. That’s remodeling the housing and central control areas to correct urgent safety and security deficiencies. This first phase is where the $2.3 million will be spent, but up to $500,000 may be associated with planned upgrades to the courthouse.  Phase two could potentially start in three to five years. It addresses the facility needs associated with the growing population of Wasatch County. That includes expanding and remodeling the Sheriff’s Office booking, evidence, administrative, patrol and investigations areas. This phase also includes the construction of a new medical housing unit, support spaces and a major site and building upgrade with additions to the Sheriff’s Office.  The second phase will require Wasatch County to purchase land and is projected to cost $36 million. It’s possible this phase could be funded with a revenue bond costing $2.7 million per year for 20 years at 4% interest, according to Lefgren. The revenue bond may be funded largely through public safety impact fees.  Phase three would not start for at least five years. It includes constructing a second jail housing pod to meet future inmate capacity needs as the county’s population grows over the next few decades. Plus, related site improvements and a new Sheriff’s Office emergency vehicle storage facility.  The third phase is projected to cost $14.2 million. It could be funded with a revenue bond costing $1 million per year for 20 years with 4% interest. It would be funded largely by public safety impact fees in addition to increased revenue from the state of Utah for services provided, according to Lefgren.  Lefgren said it’s crucial to note the county’s fiscal discernment. He added that public meetings will be held for Wasatch County residents to learn more about the proposed renovation.  “I think it’s important for residents to understand that this project is something that is needed, but we’re not raising taxes to be able to fund it,” Lefgren said. “We’re in a good place to where we are able to do these very needed projects without increasing the burden on the residents.” The post Wasatch County starts a sweeping three-phased jail renovation appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less