Officials mixed on jail bond issue

Curry County Commission Chairman Wendell Bostwick's push to place an already voter-rejected $9.3 million jail bond issue on the Nov. 6 general election ballot is receiving mixed reviews from other commissioners.

Voters defeated the same bond issue in an April special election.

While Commissioner Frank Blackburn thinks asking voters again in November is "a good idea," Commissioner Robert Sandoval isn't convinced.

"I know we need it. We need it tomorrow," Sandoval said Wednesday. "I'm really not sure that this November is the right time to do it. I'm afraid if we put it on (the ballot) this soon that the people are going to reject it again."

Should that happen, there is danger lurking not only for current commissioners struggling to deal with over-crowding and health and safety issues at the jail, but also for new commissioners being elected in November.

If voters reject the issue in November, state law mandates the issue can't be placed on the ballot again for another two years, according to Duane Brown, the county's bond attorney. That would amount to the current commission ham-stringing the new commission in dealing with some very real problems at the jail, said Paul Barnes, the Democrat nominee for retiring Commissioner Caleb Chander's seat and a former commission chairman.

"I don't think I would do that to the upcoming people," Barnes said. "I think they're really taking a chance. I think they should just leave it alone and let the new group coming in address the issue."

Barnes' general election opponent, Republican Tim Ashley, said he believes voters will reject the same bond issue a second time.

"I personally think if you do things the same and expect a different outcome, it's probably not going to happen," Ashley said. "The concerns I've heard come from the community are ... basically we don't want to put any more money in downtown Clovis for an incarceration facility. People would like to see a plan worked out for something (a jail) more remotely located."

Ashley said he would like to explore a regional jail built in partnership with neighboring counties. Such a plan would enable the partnered counties to seek capital outlay money from the state to build a jail "so the local taxpayers don't to have to pony up the entire cost."

Commission candidate Ben McDaniel, who faces no opposition this fall after winning the June primary election, said, "I think it would be tough in getting it to fly. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But, I think it would be hard to pull off."

The latest issue to prompt Bostwick's call to put the bond issue on the ballot centers on major problems with the jail kitchen and its deteriorating floor.

State health officials are demanding both short and long-term solutions for problems, threatening they will shut down the kitchen if they don't see progress.

The jail kitchen is operating on a temporary license from the state until inspectors are satisfied problems with the kitchen floor are fixed.

Blackburn said he thinks commissioners should put the issue on the ballot because spending money to fix the kitchen isn't a good plan. Blackburn said the kitchen is outdated and too small for the current jail population.

"As the population of this area grows," Blackburn said, "you're going to have more prisoners, more inmates."

Blackburn also said the $9.3 million bond issue is a good financial deal. He said bond interest rates — the rate the county has to pay investors who buy such bonds — are at an all-time low.

Blackburn also noted the jail bond issue doesn't increase property taxes. An existing tax scheduled to be paid off in two years would instead be extended by another 20 years.

Bostwick will take his campaign to the full five-member commission at its July 24 meeting. County Manager Lance Pyle confirmed the issue is on the July agenda.

The county's bond attorney and financial planner have been asked to attend the same meeting to go over details with the commission, Pyle said.

County Clerk Coni Jo Lyman said if the commission wants the issue on the ballot, it better move fast. Lyman said her deadline for submitting the ballot to printers is Sept. 11.