Residents protest site of new jail

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 11:22 a.m.

In an effort to relieve its jail system, which is expected to be overloaded in five years, Metro police targeted an area near Sunrise Mountain to build a minimum-security facility.

In an effort to protect their neighborhood, nearby residents vehemently opposed the project.

And Tuesday, in an attempt to keep the peace, Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid announced she convinced Metro officials to drop their plan.

"We want to remove a lot of our non-violent inmates from our facility into a remote area," said Metro deputy chief Dave Sweikert. "Apparently this area wasn't remote enough."

About a month ago, Metro began looking at 80 acres of former mining territory near Cheyenne and Alta Drive for a "sprung structure" facility that would house some 400 inmates serving time for misdemeanor crimes.

A sprung structure is similar to a Quonset hut and costs half the amount as a building to construct. Sweikert said because of underground mines in the area, the structure would have been built low so residents couldn't see it.

"The trustees sleep there and in the morning get in a bus and go to work in the community," said Sweikert, adding that the inmates found guilty of crimes like domestic violence and driving under the influence of alcohol serve sentences no longer than six months.

Sweikert said Metro's correctional facility is full and he anticipates the new 1,300-bed, $119 million Regional Justice Center under construction will be at full capacity three years after it opens.

He said Metro and the county will continue looking for a site better suited for the minimum-security facility.

"We want it in a remote area, but not so far out that it will hinder the trustees ability to provide their services throughout the community," Sweikert said.

Kincaid said Sunrise Mountain residents have circulated petitions protesting the jail. She plans to tell those who attend Thursday's town board meeting that the plan has been permanently dropped.

"I asked Metro to have a meeting with the residents to see what type of support there was, and there was no support; there was a lot of opposition," Kincaid said. "Metro is cognizant of what the community wants and how it feels."