Sheriff, staff preparing to move into new jail

FRANKLIN COUNTY - It's hard not to notice a sense of pride in the tone of Sheriff Larry Plott's voice when he talks about the new Franklin County Jail.

It's something he says has been needed in the county for decades, and he has put in a lot of time and work in making it happen.

On Sunday afternoon, the facility on Walnut Gate Road will be unveiled to the public at an open house.

"There's nothing plush about it," Plott said. "There are no frills. It's simply block, concrete and steel. It is simply a secure lockup facility."

With the exception of a few minor items, the construction of the $9.2 million facility is complete, and Plott hopes everything will be moved into the new jail by mid- to late March.

The 32,000-square-foot jail is built on a 30-acre tract at the intersection of Walnut Gate Road and Herring Cross Road.

The facility will replace a 70-year-old jail behind the courthouse in Russellville.

"We have the second oldest operating facility in the state right now," Plott said.

The old jail is certified to house 56 inmates, but the new one will handle 150.

It has been routine for 100-plus inmates to be jailed in the current facility.

Offices at the jail will be housed in a separate administration building next to the jail. Plott said all furnishings in the administration building is being paid for with money seized from illegal drug cases.

County officials said more than $600,000 in grant money was used to install a fiber optics network in the jail. According to Jail Administrator James Woodall, the network will limit inmates' access to the outside and to visitors. Inmates will now talk to their visitors through monitors rather than in person.

Also, there will be a hookup with the courthouse so inmates will not have to be transferred for bond hearings and similar court proceedings. At present, Plott said jailers have to escort inmates to the courtroom for those hearings.

"It will all be done through the network now," he said.

Another benefit of the system is that inmates can actually receive preliminary medical exams without being transported from the facility. He said the fiber optic connection will allow the county's doctor to view patients without being at the jail or having the patient at his office.

The new jail also includes four dorm-type areas, booking and waiting areas, records rooms, lobby, kitchen, laundry room, medical room and holding cells.

"We've got a holding cell now at the old jail, but we're having to house inmates in it," Woodall said.

Plott said the overall environment will be safer for employees and the inmates.

Moving into the new facility will also eliminate most of the maintenance costs, which had become a major concern at the old jail.

County officials said plumbing and electrical maintenance repairs alone was costing the county at least $100,000 a year.

"And that's on a good year," Woodall said.

Plott said the facility should meet the county's future needs.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.