WALNUT RIDGE -- Lawrence County residents supported in a special election Tuesday two sales-tax issues totaling half a percent that will fund the construction and operation of a 100-bed county jail.
The new jail will replace the county's 40-bed facility, which was mandated for closure after a state inspection found several deficiencies.
Complete but unofficial results are:
0.375 percent sales tax for construction of jail
For 844
Against 597
0.125 percent sales tax for jail maintenance and operation
For 834
Against 611
"We were surprised it passed the first time, but we're happy," County Judge Dale Freeman said. "It's hard to pass a tax the first time. We kept this tax issue low-keyed. We just got the right amount of people out to vote."
The state's Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee recommended closing the 40-year-old jail after an Aug. 27 inspection found several inadequacies. The committee said the jail's sprinkler system is deficient, the lighting is poor, there are no fire alarms, and female prisoners are not separated properly from male prisoners.
Sterling Penix, the coordinator of the committee, said members will meet with Lawrence County officials Dec. 9 to review the county's plans for building the new jail. He has said the committee is expected to extend its closure deadline because the county has developed a plan for correcting its jail issues.
Had the tax failed, the county would have had to pay $50 per day to house male prisoners and $55 per day for female prisoners at the Greene County jail. Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Yates said that would cost the county at least $72,000 a year.
Freeman said Lawrence County Quorum Court members will meet Dec. 7 to discuss the new jail. Plans call for building the 20,000-square-foot jail on 6 acres near the courthouse in downtown Walnut Ridge.
The total tax is projected to collect about $585,000 a year, he said. The 0.375 percent tax would end after 22 years, when construction bonds were paid off, and the remaining 0.125 percent tax would be collected permanently.
State Desk on 11/11/2015