Bannock County holds bond hearing for jail expansion

POCATELLO -- Residents of Pocatello gathered in the commissioners chambers to debate a bond allowing an expansion for the Bannock county jail. Most people were opposed to the notion.

The Bannock County Jail has been facing overcrowding for more than a year now, and it’s growing problem.

“I’m required to accept all prisoners — I can’t put up a no-vacancy sign. I also have to accept federal prisoners,” Bannock County Sheriff, Lorin Nielsen said.

While the crowd may have been small, they wanted to make sure commissioners knew they’re against an 18 million dollar bond.

“You know the money that we’re spending, the tax dollars, I think could be spent in a lot better ways,” Jeff Greenwell said, who is opposed to the expansion.

The bond is anticipated to cover the cost of the 34,000 square foot expansion, adding 260 more beds. The jails current capacity is 264.

If passed, the bond would cost residents $16.35 for $100,000 (with homeowners exemption) of property value every year.

Nielsen said he appreciated the public’s interest in finding alternatives to the jail, but his feelings on the expansion still stand.

“You will need a net, and that’s all that I wanted to get across, is that we need this net. It’s not a matter of, ‘We’ll put it off until we can afford it,’ we need it now,” Nielsen said.

The coordinator for the jail’s drug and alcohol program was the only person at this meeting who doesn’t oppose the bond.

“I see from a day to day basis the problem with overcrowding, and from a drug and alcohol stand point, we don’t have the ability to treat as many people as we could,” Mike Beers said, treatment coordinator said.

The commissioners will be taking public written comments for the next 60 days.