Vigo County to demolish old jail

Mar. 12—The Vigo County Security Center's days are officially numbered, after the Vigo County Council voted to subject the old jail to demolition during Tuesday evening's meeting.

Only Council President O. Todd Thacker voted against the measure in a 6-1 decision. Last week, Thacker said he could think of several items that were higher priorities than tearing down the jail, which will carry a cost of $4.5 million.

County Commissioners, who have long been seeking to demolish the worn and even potentially dangerous building, were pleased with the ruling. Chris Switzer clutched his fists in victory, and Mark Clinkenbeard thanked the council for its due diligence in reaching the decision.

Repurposing the building would cost 20% more than constructing a new building, Clinkenbeard has said, adding that converting it, for example, to office space would cost between $30 and $40 million.

Included in the cost of the demolition is $450,000 for moving equipment serving the adjacent radio tower that enables communications between county employees from the jail's basement into a prefab building that would stand next to the tower and would be portable. If the tower is moved, it could be transported, too.

Another $971,000 would go to building a cul-de-sac between where the jail now stands and the Vigo County Courthouse and adding parking spaces there, including a number of handicapped spaces. Currently, the nearest handicapped parking to the courthouse is more than a block away.

In other business, the council granted Vigo County CASA — or Court Appointed Special Advocates — three requests, with a couple of amendments. CASA Director Glenna Cheesman has asked for three new fulltime jobs for staff advocates — another, she hopes, will be paid for through a state grant she hopes is coming.

Weger called the amount of money Cheesman was requesting "a heavy hit," but acknowledged that CASA was understaffed and asked if she would be content with two new positions. Cheesman answered yes, and after an amendment changing the requested number, the ordinance was passed 5-2, with Travis Norris and David M. Thompson providing the no votes.

A couple of other CASA requests — to correct position titles and to correct job descriptions — were approved 7-0. Correcting the job descriptions was amended so that they would take effect on Oct. 1

The Vigo County Parks Department's requests for $40,200 for mowing equipment and $42,366.75 for a new fulltime position for a maintenance/park ranger were also affirmed.

Also approved were Vigo's Adult Probation office requested amending a job classification from receptionist to secretary and moving an IT specialist's salary under the court's budget, as well as $750 for the Veterans Assistance Office to rent a copy machine for five years.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.