CALDWELL, Idaho -- The Canyon County commissioners have plans to expand the Canyon County jail. However, it hinges on two things; whether the Sheriff will agree to it, and whether there is enough money in the county coffers.
"Well, it turns out, the county is in a very healthy financial position," said Canyon County Commissioner Steve Rule on Idaho Talks Live on 670 AM Wednesday morning. "We've got $13 to $15 million in fund balance that we can take and address this jail issue."
Their plan would add about 300 beds into the current jail facility.
After failing multiple times to pass a bond for a new jail, this expansion would be done using money the county already has. Also, it would be closer to the Canyon County Courthouse than previous suggestions to build a jail off Highway 20-26.
"One of the criticisms of moving it, say five miles out of town on a freeway exit, was that you're going to have to transport everybody back and forth to the courts and hold them," said Rule. "Well, this eliminates that issue."
However, Sheriff Donahue has concerns.
"I have a lot of hesitancy because we are still under a federal ACLU consent decree. To add onto an existing building that we have so many problems with, that we were sued for under in the first place, I don't know that that's the right approach," Donahue said.
For years, he has asked for a new jail, but he is glad the commissioners are willing to talk about their plans.
"I think the philosophy of identifying and accepting that we have a serious issue in Canyon County on public safety due to our limitations of the jail, I think that's a positive move," said Donahue.
Donahue maintains that his plans for a new jail would cost about half the price he was given for the commissioners jail expansion.
"So why build onto an old building that is decrepit that we've been sued under, that we've lost in federal court under?" said Donahue. "I think this is a good stepping stone to have a conversation, but we really need to be looking for the future."
We called Steve Rule, but did not get back to us. None of the other commissioners were made available to speak.
The county would not release designs and specific plans for the jail expansion. Sheriff Donahue and the Commissioners have a meeting set for next week to talk about the expansion in more detail.
