If the $8.65 million sales tax bond for a new jail and communications center doesn?t pass in the Nov. 4 election, Marion County could be faced with a proposal to remodel and add to the existing jail at a cost estimated at $11.48 million.
Those were the figures state in an informational brochure the Marion County Commission considered Monday for distrivtion. The brochure was prepared for the commission by the architectural law firm Law/Kingdon of Wichita, which is the architect for the proposed new jail.
The figure for the old jail is based on mandates that would be required by the State of Kansas, as well as adding on for a communictions center and innovations for such things as an exercise yard that would screen the inmates from public view.
The price would include $5.074 million for remodeling the old jail plus nearly $6.38 million for additions. The entire project would be proposed to come from property taxes, the brochure stated.
The brochure also stated the current facility puts the county at risk for lawsuits for reasons of health and security.
If the bond does pass, the new jail and communications center would be built on lots 4, 5 and 6 of Batt Industrial Park in Marion.
