WAURIKA, Okla_After six years
of waiting, Jefferson County finally voted to restore an old building in Waurika
and turn it into a new jail, the Jefferson
County Detention
Center.
We reported in June
of 2011 that the renovations were underway. Originally the jail was to be opened
as a private corporation by the Jefferson County Economic Development Authority,
but that didn't work. So, the sheriff's department took over the job earlier
this year and finished the project.
Two weeks ago,
the jail started filling up with inmates from around the state and already the
city is feeling an economic boost now that it's here.
Some residents were
opposed to the idea of having a jail right in the middle of their small
community. They were worried about inmates escaping into their town. But City Manager
Chuck Brown said the economic advantages outweighed their concern.
Waurika is a
small community. Its residents shop locally, get gas locally and work locally.
That's why the Brown, feels the Jefferson
County Detention
Center is going to give
this small town a big boost. The jail is going to employ 25-30 local people.
"25-30 in
a town of 2000, that's a big economic impact. Those are people that are
working, paying taxes."
The sheriffs
department has been pushing for a jail in town for years and about 5 months ago
they were able to take over the renovation project from the county economic
development authority.
"The
building itself isn't new. It's just been remodeled. In fact, it's been here
for decades. In the 80's it served as the INS building and until now, it's been
sitting here vacant. But soon, it could hold close to 100 inmates."
Brown said the
jail will take some of the financial pressure off the county. A second site for
the brand new Waurika
Community Work
Center just down the road
from the new jail will also help out. Soon it will also hold close to 100 low
security inmates and Brown said his plans aren't stopping there, he wants to
expand further.
"Hopefully
further down the road, with 100 prisoners down here, 100 prisoners out here,
then what the normal jail capacity is, maybe we could affect the hospital and
they could dedicate a wing for prisoner treatment."
Brown said the Waurika
Community Work
Center should be up and
running in the next 8 months.
