Commissioners Ax Jail Expansion

The St. Mary’s County Commissioners have jettisoned the proposed expansion plan for the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. On a 3-2 vote the commissioners decided not to send a letter to the state requesting extra monies for the project based on a bid that was $7.7 million over budget. The decision effectively cancels the project. The commissioners did not say during the vote whether they would continue with a project to provide air conditioning and security improvements for the current facility.

The county’s architect for the project, who certified the budget estimate, has still not provided an explanation to the county about why it was so far out of line. Director of Public Works and Transportation George Erichsen says it appears there was no duplication which could have led for bidders to give the same price twice for an item. He did say the architect has told the county which items were over his estimate, but not why.

Commissioner Todd Morgan (R: 4^th) asked Erichsen if there was any downside at this time in sending in the request to the state for the additional funding. Of the overage, the county would be responsible for more than $4 million and the state for slightly less than $3 million. Erichsen answered that he didn’t see any down side.

Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell (D) asked Sheriff Tim Cameron how long the county had been working on the jail expansion and he answered it has been more than six years. Although there has been a slowdown in the rate of increase of the jail population in recent years, Cameron feels the expansion is needed for the future, given county population increase projections. And the expansion will allow for improvements to the existing facility.

Based on some comments from Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R: 3^rd) apparently there is some question about who owns the land on which the expansion was to be located, the county or state. That issue has not heretofore been discussed by the commissioners. Russell said he felt that issue could be worked out.

In the end Commissioner Daniel Morris (R: 2^nd) moved to notify the state they were not proceeding with the expansion. Morris voted in May to put the project in the capital budget, but at the much lower cost. Commissioner Cynthia Jones (R: 1^st) was the lone opposing vote in May.

This time Russell and Morgan voted against the motion which carried 3-2. Later in the meeting Russell suggested that the county look into a regional jail as an alternative to expanding the existing one.