Jail construction continues; most changes bring savings

The new jail cells aren't quite ready to move into -- for one thing they lack locks, but work is progressing on the new Vernon County Jail. A lot of work remains; but the building is weather tight so work can continue throughout the winter, even in the worst of weather. --Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

"This is coming along nicely," Peckman said this weekend during a tour of the facility. "There have been some changes but most of them have ended up saving us money, so that's a good thing."

Many of the changes in the design are the result of peculiarities of the land. A large sandstone ledge was discovered under the site, which necessitated constructing a steel building on the site to replace it a basement storage area. The jail itself is essentially the same size as originally designed and will house up to 80 prisoners.

Leading the tour, Les Paine, site supervisor, pointed out where various features of the jail would be located. Imagination was required to visualize some of the features, since the interior of the building is bare concrete walls with very little equipment in place. Paine said the interior work can continue over the winter since the building's exterior offers protection from the elements.

This will one day be the kitchen for the Vernon County Jail. Bare concrete walls with all the wiring and plumbing exposed is all there is so far -- most of the fixtures have been installed, but the kitchen is still awaiting most of the interior finish. Contractors will work throughout the winter to complete the jail, which should be ready by May. --Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

"We'll get a lot of the interior work done over the winter," Paine said. "There will be very little noticeable change outside. Most of the work will be on the interior."

The cells are in place and feature two steel bunks, table, shelf, shower and a toilet/sink combination. The all-steel construction was selected both because it is harder for inmates to damage and because it requires little maintenance.

The new facility features a video-conferencing area where inmates can appear before a judge who remains in the courthouse, a visitation area where inmates can confer with their attorneys, and a video visitation area where inmates can communicate over closed-circuit television with visitors who remain outside.

A booking pit features a depressed area with a bench where arrestees can be seated and view a video telling about the rules of the jail while their information is being processed. The pit also features a drain.

"There's a drain there because some of the people we bring in are pretty messed up, drunk or whatever, and they tend to have a problem keeping from throwing up," Peckman said.

The interior of one of the cells in the new Vernon County jail is Spartan but functional. --Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

An observation area overlooks the cellblock and jailers can keep tabs on the inmates either by direct visual observation or by means of video surveillance.

"This is also where the communications equipment will be," Peckman said. "We're working with the city to combine dispatchers so it will be a lot more efficient."

An impound area lies to the north of the jail building as well as the steel building which replaced the originally planned basement.

In addition, a new road will be constructed to connect the jail to Commerce Drive, which will be the primary entrance.

A road also will connect Mac Boulevard to the rear of the jail for deliveries.