Merrimack County lawmakers have approved a 24-point-two million dollar renovation and expansion of the County Jail in Boscawen. County officials say the project will enable them to house inmates in better conditions and offer more rehabilitation programs. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
COUNTY DELEGATES HAD REJECTED A PREVIOUS 30-MILLION DOLLAR PLAN, SO THE CONSULTANTS HIRED FOR THE PROJECT BROUGHT BACK A SLIMMED DOWN PROPOSAL. THE NEW PLAN INCLUDES LESS SPACE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND INMATE ACTIVITIES, BUT SUPERINTENDANT CAROL ANDERSON SAID HER STAFF WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THE KINDS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INMATES NEED.
What we did is take a little bit off everything, its kind of like shrinking. I think we can do the job, keep our programs and still retain the things we want.
SUPPORTERS TOLD THE DELEGATION THEY COULDN?T DELAY THE WORK ANY LONGER. THEY POINTED OUT THE CURRENT JAIL IS OVERCROWDED, AND THE COUNTY WAS LIKELY TO FACE A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IF IT DIDN?T IMPROVE CONDITIONS. AND THEY SAID THE NEW PLANS WERE IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE SPENDING TO BUILD JAILS. THOSE ARGUMENTS WON OVER REPUBLICAN DAVID HESS OF HOOKSETT, WHO VOTED AGAINST THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
I think we can suffer from analysis paralysis if we continue to study further and further. I?m satisifed this is a reasonable cost estimate and I hope the delegation adopts it.
OTHER DELEGATES REMAINED CRITICAL. CONCORD DEMOCRAT TARA REARDON BLANCHED AT ESTIMATES THAT THE PROJECT WOULD CAUSE HER CITY?S TAX BILL TO RISE BY ABOUT 2 MILLION DOLLARS WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
I believe theres a more equitable balance between a federal lawsuit and the kind of appropriation we?re talking about here. I think I need to see that number even lower before I could support something like this.
THE PROJECT PASSED 23 TO 6. COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT STEP IS TO HIRE PROJECT MANAGERS AND DRAW UP A DETAILED DESIGN FOR THE JAIL. THEY SAY IF ALL GOES WELL, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO BREAK GROUND FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
