From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 60-63
County Jail Marion Visited May 1905. There were confined in the county jail nine men. The Board were well pleased with the appearance of the jail. Neatness, cleanliness, and system showed plainly that the institution was being cared for, and we commend Sheriff Mills and his assistants for the manner in which they are keeping it.
Lockups Visited May 1905 The lockups remain about the same as far as we have visited. We hope soon to see an improvement made at Upland, as the lockup there is unfit for use. An improvement could be made in the way of cleanliness at Gas City and Fairmount. The lockup at Matthews is in good condition. We have not visited all but will soon.
From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 68-74
County Jail Marion Visited August 31, 1907 Population 26 19 men and 7 women, of whom two are insane. The jail is badly in need of a padded cell, but it is kept in good condition.
From Book Indiana Bulletin: Charities and Corrections Issue 75-83
County Jail Marion Visited June 1909. Population 36 35 men and 1 woman. Two men are insane. The jail is kept in good condition. Some of the cells need painting. A padded cell is needed at times. The building is well lighted and heated also well ventilated.
From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 88-91
County Jail Marion Visited May 18, 1912. There are 20 prisoners, two men awaiting trial, sixteen men and one woman serving jail sentence, and one man for safekeeping. The institution was clean throughout and well-kept. Prisoners bathe once a week. Again, we call attention to the urgent need of the padded cell. Twenty-five or thirty dollars worth of property was destroyed by our last insane patient. These losses would, in time, purchase the padded cell. Also, new keys should be purchased for the doors of the women's department to replace the ones carried away. We recommend that all the able bodied men serving jail sentence should be put to work.
Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 96-99
County Jail Marion Visited May 8 1914. There were twenty men and one woman serving jail sentence. The building is a brick and stone structure and in good condition. It is strong and well ventilated by doors and windows. Heat light and water are furnished by the city and it has good fire protection. There are forty eight closets one in each cell. We found these all contained waste paper which we suggested should not be allowed. The building was clean and plumbing and sewerage in good condition. There are five bathtubs and inmates bathe once a week and change underclothes. Bedding is washed as often as needed. The beds are iron frames with springs and fasten to the wall and blankets are used on the beds. There are no special rules for receiving prisoners. No tramps are received Sexes are separated. Women are on the third floor and young boys are not allowed with other prisoners. Religious services are held every Sunday afternoon. Prisoners are given plenty to eat. Our board recommends that these able bodied men serving jail sentence be given employment. The ceiling in the kitchen needs painting and we suggest that paint be bought and the prisoners do the work.
From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 100-103
COUNTY JAIL MARION Visited August 5 1915. OP Wright sheriff Building and Equipment. A well planned brick and steel structure. Good ventilation and light Heating by steam lighting by electricity. City water. A closet in each cell. Satisfactory plumbing and sewerage. Ample bath facilities. Beds are iron bunks with wire springs. Blankets in fair condition. No rule in regard to the washing of the bedding. Building fairly Management A jailer is employed No printed rules. Tramps received occasionally when brought by officers. It was learned that the commissioners do not visit the jail quarterly in accordance with the law clean. Prisoners Thirty three present two of whom are women One of the latter is insane. The other two women are serving short. sentences. The sexes are separated. Prisoners required to bathe and change underclothing weekly No employment. Three meals daily. The food is prepared by one of the prisoners. One daily paper furnished and magazines are given occasionally. Weekly religious services. Improvements No important changes since the last report. Recommendations Interior of jail needs painting. Rules should be adopted. Expenses for 1914 Repairs 408.86 employes 250.00 supplies in cluding fuel light water etc 1,093.45 sheriff's fees including boarding and care of prisoners 5,306.15 total 7,058.46.
From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 116-121
County Jail Marion Visited February 26, 1919. Bert Fowler is sheriff The jail is a modern brick structure The city furnishes heat, light, and water. The women's department is on the third floor. There are shower baths in each department, and inmates are supposed to bathe at least once a week. Population 27 23 men and 4 women. Inmates serving time 12 10 men and 2 women. Inmates awaiting trial 6 Insane inmates 8 men and 1 women. There was one boy. As a whole the condition of the jail is splendid. Necessary repairs have been made. There are 50 or 60 blankets at the jail and in order that they may be kept in condition at the least cost it is recommended that a washing machine be bought.
From the Book Public Welfare in Indiana, Issues 131-135
County Jail Marion Visited June 13 1922. The jail is located one square east of the court house in Marion. Albert Fowler sheriff Building and Equipment. The jail is constructed of brick and is strong. However the locking devices are out of order and the jail is not safe. The ventilation comes from the windows. There are forty four cells for men and seven cells for women also three hospital cells. Children are cared for in the department for women. The jail is lighted by electricity and heated by steam City water is supplied. Each cell contains a closet but many of them are out of order. The jail is clean. The plumbing is in need of repair. There are four shower baths and one tub all in good condition. Wire spring bunks are used. The bed ding is washed when soiled.
Management The jail is managed by the sheriff who inspects it daily. He employs a jailor. Rules are not posted. The commissioners visit the jail quarterly. Tramps are not received except upon arrest. City prisoners are received upon arrest Inmates Population 4 men 1 woman. One of the men is insane There is provision for the classification of prisoners. No occupation is provided. Prisoners bathe weekly. Three meals a day are served. Reading matter is furnished. Religious services are not held. Needs. The locking devices the plumbing and the toilets should be repaired. Some painting is needed. Rules should be posted.
Marion Chronicle 11-7-1958
County Jail is called Filthy By Grand Jury
Grand Jury’s Jail Report
Hon. Robert T. Caine
Judge of the Grant Circuit Court
Marion, Indiana
Honorable Robert T. Caine
The members of the Grand Jury of Grant County, Indiana., for the September Term, 1958, of the Grant Circuit Court respectfully submit, the following report of their investigation and inspection of the Grant County Jail made on the 16th day of October, 1958. The Grand Jury investigated the conditions and checked them with the report of the previous Grand Jury and make the following comments and suggestions.
In our survey, we especially noted the management of county property as well as its physical condition. After all, its of temporary value only, to improve property and let management continue the practices which orginally led to the defective condition.
- We recommend that this instution be inspected immediately by the City Health Officer and each 30 days thereafter. Unswept floors, unflushed toilets, debris of one form or another pervaded the whole atmosphere with an undesirable stench, Human filth was prevalent in every cell block on the first two floors with the results that we found human beings incarcerated in pens unfit for animals.
There are crimes of omission as well as commission and one is being perpretrated on those housed in our county jail which included 29 men, 2 women and 3 juveniles on the day of our inspection.
- We recommend that If the filth in the jail is not completely cleaned up within 30 days that appropriate legal steps be taken to see that it is done. There are those who may assume that it is impossible to keep a jail clean but no effort was being made by employees of the sheriff. As evidence of this, in one cell block, at least, the water was turned off outside the cell area consequently the inmates did not have access to water.
- In hiring employees to care for County property or those charged with the responsibility of guarding prisoners. We recommend that sufficient money be expended to attract individuals of average mental, moral and physical capacity.
- Many inmates of the jail do not have access to ater because the handles have been taken off the faucets. This can easily be remedied by having present personnel use a pale of pliers and a screw driver and replace all such faucet handles.
- Another feature of the mismanagement is the failure to keep unused cells locked. If such doors were locked, prisoners would not be able to tamper with all the plumbing fixtures in his or her cell block.
- Juveniles are housed on the second floor directly across the hall from adult criminals. This is true, despite the fact that ministers and other public spirited citizens succeed a few years ago in having a part of the third floor set aside for juvenile offenders. An appropriation of tax payers money was used to make the necessary changes.
- The third floor is occupied by woman only and showed the result of some intelligent supervision.
- In order to enable prisoners to bathe when they care to we recommend that a 60 gallon or larger gas-fired hot water heater be installed to replace the inefficient one which supplies hot water for about two hours of each 24.
- It is unthinkable in this age that food will be kept for human consumption from one mal to the next, without the benefit of refrigeration but that is the situation which exists at the couty jail. There is no ice box or other refrigeration. We insist that an electric refrigerator be supplied at once.
- The kitchen was being kept fairly clean but the meager, monotonous diet consisted of food permitted to stand in warm filth-infested air from one meal to the next.
- The jail building is not new but the interior and exterior are substantial and could be made livable and presentable if the indifference on the part of the sheriff, the mismanagement on the part of his employees and the laziness on the part of the turnkeys were eliminated.
- We recommend that this Court take all the necessary steps to see that this property be managed in a business like manner: that it be kept clean according to locally approved standards that the handles be replaced on the faucets and that the 2 pieces of equipment namely a hot water heater and a refrigerator be purchased.
We request that a copy of this Report be furnished to the Grant County Sheriff, to the State Department of Public Welfare, the County Department of Public Welfare, the County Commissioners, the County Council, and each Member of this Grand Jury and that a copy b retained by the court for presentation to the next Grand Jury.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen York
Foreman
“We Do The Best We Can” Sheriff Myers Declares
Sheriff Cary Myers today conceded the truth of several charges report in a grand jury’s report on the operation of the Grant County Jail, but contended “we do the best we can with the money we have and conditions we’re under.”
The sheriff commented on various items one by one as he read through the sharply critical report.
“We do as good as job as possible in keeping this jail clean,” he said in answering the charges of “unswept floors, unflushed toilets, debris of one form or another.” He suggested the jury “go see some other jail around here” for comparison.
“I’ve seen some jails where you eneeded a scoop shovel to get the dirt out. It’s nothing like that here.”
He explained that the cleaning of the jail is done every other day by “trustee” prisoners under the supervision of Turnkey Russell Stanley.
“But when you’ve got 25 to 40 prisoners in jail, you’re up against a real job. Those guys just don’t care.”
Sheriff Myers said he was ready to admit that the jail needed new toilets and new locks, but pointed out it will take an additional appropriation from the county. The toilets are old he said and often clogged with debris placed in them by prisoners.
He denied that food is kept in open air in the basement from “one meal to the next,” as charged in the report. With no refridgeratiar for the jail, the food is kept in freezing units in the sheriff’s adjacent home, he said.
He said that what the jury called a “meager, monotonus diet could only be improved by raising the present allowance of 35 cents per meal in his budget.
The lack of water for prisoners was explained by the sheriff as a temporary step to accumulate a quantity of hot water for use in the kitchen. The water heating facilities, he said, are ot sufficient to keep the entire jail supplied all the time.
He pointed out that the jails third floor is used only for women prisoners. Juveniles being kept sepertately on the second floor.
January 2, 1974 Chronicle Tribune Page 22, Column 4
Says jail inadequate
By Phil Witherow
C-T Staff Writer
The Grant County Jail is antiquated and totally inadequate to meet the needs of Marion and Grant County, according to the annual report on county facilities prepared by the Grant County Grand Jury.
The report released by Circuit Court Judge A. Morris Hall on Monday, stated it, “is common knowledge the jail is old antiquated building and would appear to be most difficult to keep and maintain.”
The building is simply totally inadequate to serve the prupose for which it was orginally constructed. The report, signed by jury foreman Maurice Hundley continued.
Sheriff Harold Ash was commended by the jury for his work in keeping the jail in the best condition possible.
We do not mean to imply that those being held in jail need have expensive surroundings, but we do mean that it appears to us most difficult that the sheriff and his employes can actually take care of and control those in the jail.” The report said.
Noting that previous grand jury reports had noted the same difficulties with the jail, the report said, “we do feel in our own minds that it is time the proper county officials take immediate steps to provide a suitable and adequate jail.”
The jury recommended that if necessary the county begin accumulating funds now to replace the building.
County Commissioner ed Green noted that there was nothing new in the report and said the county was looking into various ways to obtain money to build a new jail. He added that Sheriff Ash was checking on the possibility of getting federal criminal justice planning funds.
Ash also agreed with the jury that the jail was inadequare, adding that some of the bars are sagging and that the plumbing and wiring are bad.
“The front door lock is the only thing holding the prisoners in,” Ash said.
Ash added that he had heard about the criminal justice planning funds, but he said he felt it was up to the commission to pursue the funding needs.
The jury, which prepared its report after making unannounced inspection visits, also inspected the Children’s Home and Walnut Creed Manor, the new county home.
The Jury reported that it was favaorably impressed with the Children’s Home, otingg the bright interior of the building and the care and attention which the children received.
The jury did note, however, a leak in the roof and problems with the heating system.
The problem with the leak has been known for some time, according to Green, who said it had been repared several times. But because of the age of the building, the repairs have not been successful. He also said the heating system had been a frequent trouble spot in the building and consideration was being given to replaing it.
The jury noted that exit and emergency lights were not in operation at Walnut Creek Manor and Green said they have not yet been connected by the architect.
Chronicle Tribune June 23, 1976
Architects submit remodeling Costs
Jail fixup, $1 million
By PHIL WITHEROW C-T Staff Writer
The structure of the present Grant County Jail is sound, but it will cost more than $1 million to remodel the facility, two architects said yesterday in public meetings.
The Grant County Commissioners received a report from the state jail inspector recently which said the present jail is not fit for human habitation.
Edward R. Green, president of the board of commissioners, said yesterday's meetings were part of a year long program to find a solution to the problem with the jail and were scheduled before the inspector's report was released.
Green said yesterday the commissioners plan to hold more public meetings with architects, including some who will present plans to build a new facility.
No decision on whether present jail will be remodeled or a new one built until the commissioners have consulted with other county of officials, Green said,
He said it will probably be months before the commissioner's make a decision.
Philip M. C Okey of Lowry Okey Associates, Indianapolis said during a meeting yesterday morning the structure is large enough exceed the 110-prisoner capacity the county commissioners have set as goal for the remodeling the jail.
Okey said it will cost about $1.1 million to modernize the jail
Gene P Graham, an architect MW, Inc. however, said during with an afternoon meeting the present structure is not large to house 110 prisoners.
Graham said a jail with that capacity should have about 33,000 square feet and the current building has about 20,000 square feet.
Graham said he would estimate the cost of remodeling the jail at $1.8 million to $2 million.
Okey estimated it would cost about $2 million to build a new jail. Graham estimated the cost of a new facility at $2.8 million to $3 million.
Okey said it would be about four months before construction could begin if they get the contract and the construction would take about 16 months.
Graham said it would take about two-and-a-half to three years to complete the remodeling.
Okey presented drawings, of the proposed remodeling, of the jail He said the cells in the jail are used as supports for the floors and ceilings and it would be necessary to tear out all the floors in the cellblock areas of the jail.
They would be replaced will 16-man cellblocks which face a dayroom for each of the cellblocks.
Each of the cellblocks would be surrounded by a secure walk-around from which jailers could observe prisoners in their cells, he said.
Okey also said the plans call for building a secure garage so prisoners could be driven into a secure area to be unloaded. Holding cells strip and search rooms, a booking room and a medical examination room would be located in the basement, adjacent to the garage, Okey said the drunk tank, kitchen and laundry room also would be in the basement.
The plans call for the first floor of the sheriff's residence at the jail to be turned into administrative offices, he said.
The second floor could be turned into a three-bedroom apartment for the sheriff or a pistol range could be installed, Okey said.
The cellblocks would consist of eight two-man cells, with the locks controlled from outside, the cellblock, he said.
Okey said it would be possible to do work in phases, so part of the jail could be used while another part jail is being remodeled, but that phasing would make the job more difficult.
He said, however, that contractors are eager to get jobs now, so a decision to phase the project probably will not result in higher construction costs.
Graham said, he has visited the jail once, and has not drawn up whose local officials any plans because have not decided exactly what they want in the jail
He outlined a proposed remodeling plan which would keep incorrigible prisoners in cells, but would have rooms with concrete walls för other prisoners.
Chronicle 8-3-1977
County approves downtown jail site
By MARILYN R. ADAMS
C-T Staff Writer
The northeast corner of Third and Adams streets will be the site a new Grant County jail and office complex county commissioners decided yesterday.
In a hastily called, five-minute meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted to obtain that quarter block which was suggested in a feasibility study prepared by architects Fleck and Hickey, Inc., LaPorte.
The commissioners also voted to hire the architects, and to construct the complex according to their study .
he architects master plan calls for a $4.9 million, four-story building housing county offices and a detention center. The building would be attached to the courthouse by an underground tunnel.
Also approved was a proposal to place options on the properties occupying the corner the Paris building and the old Challenge Tire Company building plus the Foreman & Sons Marathon Service Station, 301 E. Third St., to be used as a county parking lot.
Commissioner William H. (Ape) Mitchener said completing paperwork on the new project will require, six to eight months before demolition and construction
There are a lot of long, hard steps to get going on," he said: "First we'll file options on this property, and the architects have a finance man to help us set up our financing."
A lawsuit filed by former county jail inmates asking that the jail be closed is forcing quick action, county councilman George Thompson said. The council probably will approve the decision easily, he said.
We could well have action this month, and certainly by the time the budget goes in in September, he said.
Mayor Tony Maidenberg, who favors building a joint city county complex, said he wasn't happy about yesterday's decision.
"I'm disappointed by the county's decision to go it alone. I think we could have worked out those are of disagreement if we'd had the opportunity, he said. -
The commissioners and county councilmen met Monday with Maidenberg, city council members, architects and members of a city county task force to discuss various sites and proposals for a new county building and city hall.
A five-month task force study report had suggested the two governments build a joint complex east of courthouse square on the block bounded by Third, Fourth, Branson and McClure streets.
The commissioners architects recommended a new city hall be built on the southwest corner of Second and Branson streets.
But Mitchener said the city and county had reached a stalemate,
“You sit in those meetings and you come right back to a standstill,” he said. "I don't even think the architects wanted to have another meeting, You've got to take affirmative action. We weren't accomplishing anything."
Task force member Dr. Joseph said he was disappointed.
“I just think it’s too bad,” he said. “I can’t see the sense in building two separate buildings. All the maintenance of two buildings is just too much.”
The task force report was not in favor of that corner because it is now commercial property, Casey Said.
"We felt as though it should remain a part of the square. And the Paris building isn't that bad," he said,
Mitchener said he was aware, the task force members and mayor probably would dislike the decision.
"They kind of want to blame us for it. But, we have a job to do and they do, too. Someone, just had to take the initiative,” he said.
An architects' suggestion to include Marion Police Department offices in the new county complex is still an option for the city, he said
"I don't see this decision as hampering the city Thompson said, "I've been led to understand that it's not going to cost the city anymore if they don't go with this site.
Neither Mitchener, nor Thompson: (Continued back page this section).
*County approves downtown jail site
(Continued from page 1)
said what method, of financing will b be used.
We feel we can almost pay cash for it. Whether this will involve borrowing money I don't know. But were committed not to bond the county over a long period of time. Short term bonds may be feasible, he said.
County Attorney Gene R. Johnson said options on the property sites will give the county time to finish legal paperwork and acquire the necessary funds.
“You try to negotiate a purchase price for some amount and they agree to hold it at that price to be purchased at the end of a certain period of time.” He said.
Arrangements for property acquisition will be made through local real estate agents, he said.
Sam Fleck, co-owner of the Paris building said last night he was unhappy about the decision.
“I’m not altogether surprised but I’m not elated about it either,” he said.
Fleck said he will discuss plans with his son and partner, Henry, who could not be reached last night for comment. The fleck family has owned The Paris store for 73 years.
The property located next door to the Paris building is owned by Marion Mortgage and Investment Company. Company spokesman John R. Browne said the firm first learned of the commissioners plans Sunday.
“We want to attempt to cooperate with the commissioners,” he said. He said he did not know the buildings worth.
William Foreman, co-manager of Foreman & Sons’ Marathon station said he was pleased about the decision.
“It sounds good if they’ve got a new building. They deserve a new building,” he said. The service station and auto repair business could be moved to another location, he said. Marathon Oil Company owns the property, he said.
Chronicle 9-7-1977
Spencer Hotel site offered for jail
By MARILYN ADAMS C-T Staff Writer.
Marion businessman Merlin J. Loew yesterday offered to sell the Grant County commissioners almost one block of his property in downtown Marion as the site for a proposed county jail and office complex.
The block is the fifth site to be considered by the commissioners for the new jail.
The proposal, presented by Loew lawyer during the commissioners regular meeting, "offered to sell all of Loew's property on the block bounded by Fourth Fifth Adams and Branson streets for $325,000. The Merlin J. Loew Trust owns about three fourth block.
The commissioners voted to consider the proposal. The proposal asks the commissioners to sign a contract for the purchase within 45 days if they accept the offer.
Loew’s proposal also offers to take the county jail, 215 E. Third St., the county annex, 428 S. Washington St., or other county property in trade and subtract their value from the cost of the Loew property.
The Loew property includes the Spencer Hotel, the Indiana Hotel, and buildings now occupied by eight businesses.
"I think it's clear that the Spencer and Indiana (hotels) would need expensive renovation to better the downtown," George P. Osborn, Loew's lawyer, said at the meeting Selling the block to the county would' be a public service, he said.
"I think this is the best thing to hit Grant County in a long time, County Council president Paul Baker said: "I think we should thank Mr. Osborn and Mr. Loew for coming in and making this proposal. Maybe they are thinking a little further ahead than we are.”
Commissioner H. Ted Null said the commissioners will study the proposal and discuss it with architects Fleck and Hickey Inc., LaPorte, who developed the county jail proposal.
Null called the new location site F of the other potential sites – B, C, D and E- the commissioners and their architects favored site E, the site of the Paris building, Fourth and Adams streets, Marion.
“I think this puts the county in a very good position,” Null said. “A lot of business people objected to the condition of the Spencer. This site would be less objectionable than site E, And it’s a much better proposition.
The proposal requests a down payment of $5,000 upon signing a contract. The county would sell 6 percent munciplal bonds worth $320,000, which would be paid off over six years.
But if Loew, 83, died before the county paid back the entire debt in that six-year period, the remaining debt would be canceled, the offer said.
“The old Hills Department Store building, now used as the county annex, could be returned to the property tax rolls if the proposal is accepted,” Null said. He also said Loew’s price, would force down prices on the other potential sites.
Loew, who has owned the 70 t 80 year old building for about 30 years, said he hopes the proposal will prompt some action on a new county building.
“We need to build a fire under someone,” Loew said. “Why keep fussing around about it? It’s the best site in Marion, I’m not discussing price, I’m asking the county commissioners what they want to do. I don’t want to haggle.”
Loew said the City of Marion’s plans to condemn the Spencer had no influence on his decision to make the proposal. He said he made the offer to take the old jail or Hill’s building in trade to improve chances the commissioners will accept the offer.
The properties Loew doesn’t own on the block are the Indiana Theater building, owned by the Sissioin Agency, 421 S. Adams St., and a building owned by businessman Frank Maidenberg, father of Marion Mayor Tony Maidenberg. Maidenberg’s property is at 214 E Fourth St.
“I think this is a lot better idea than the other one they have,” Maidenberg said. “I think most people would be delighted to see something done about that building (Spencer)).”
Maidenberg’s building is leased to a firm named T-3 Investments, which has an option to purchase the building. The firm owns five businesses in the building, including Nautilus Health and Fitness Center and JT Design, a restaurant supplier.
P. Eric Turner, vice presidenct of the firm, said the businesses opened on April, and have done $50,000 of remodeling. The purchase price is listed at $100,000 making the building’s cost $150,000.
Turner said he knew when he leased the building that the site might someday be used by city or county government, but he didn’t expect it so soon.
Phillip R. Sisson, whose real estate firm owns the Indiana Theatre, 423 S Adams St., said he would be willing to cooperate with the county if the commissioners accept Loew’s offer.
Chronicle Tribune 12-5-1978
New county jail plans may halt civil lawsuit
By MARILYN ADAMS C-T Staff Writer
An end to a 1 ½ year-old lawsuit challenging poor conditions in the Grant County Jail may be in sight, lawyers in the case said Monday.
An agreement to settle the suit which seeks to close the jail unless conditions improve-may come before the end of January, keeping the case from ever reaching court.
County Attorney Gene R. Johnson, defending the county in the suit filed by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, said he hopes a settlement comes before a pre-trial conference of lawyers scheduled for Jan. 29.
"We've been trying to work out an agreement not to pursue the matter to trial," Johnson said Monday. "We want to keep it out of court. I don't want to have to defend that jail."
Progress on a new $7.3 million county jail planned for downtown Marion has played a big part in the hoped-for settlement, Johnson said. Thirteen months ago, lawyers for the defendants predicted that speedy work on the project would be the county's best defense in the case.
The suit was filed June 10, 1977, in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne on behalf of three former jail in mates who complained of poor treatment and conditions in the 75 year-old Grant County Jail.
The suit names as defendants the three county commissioners, Sheriff Raymond A. Marley, Grant Circuit Judge A. Morris Hall, Gov. Otis R. Bowen, and other county and state officials. The suit says the jail is not fit to hold prisoners and asks that it be closed until repaired.
ICLU lawyer Douglas 0. Beerbower, Fort Wayne, said Monday he hopes all of the lawyers involved in the case can reach a settlement before Jan, 29.
"We've been in active negotiation with the attorneys for the various defendants," Beerbower said. "The building of the new jail is a very important point. Progress made so far appears to be quite good."
The suit has played a major part in motivating county officials to launch the county jail building project. Had U.S. District Court Judge Jesse L. Eschbach closed the jail, Grant County prisoners would have had to be housed in jails in other counties. Payments to those counties for use of their jails would have cost Grant County an estimated $500,000 a year.
Johnson said progress on a settlement suffered a major setback when a prisoner in the jail committed suicide in his cell last summer, The death of 33-year-old Richard E. Clark on July 16 prompted the ICLU to further investigate conditions in the jail. Clark's suicide caused a pre-trial conference scheduled for last summer to be delayed.
"We would have had all this worked out three months ago had this suicide not occurred," Johnson said.
Chronicle Tribune 2-25-1979
By MARILYN ADAMS C-T Staff Writer
Tuesday, two years of waiting will be over.
Almost two years after the official architect's study of the project was begun, bids on construction of the new Grant, County Jail and office building are being taken.
The project, called the Grant County. Security Center and County Annex by the architects, is planned for the block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Adams, and Branson streets in downtown Marion. The projected cost of the complex — including land acquisition, demolition, construction, landscaping, fees, and financing-Is $7.3 million.
The buildings will face onto Fourth. Street, with the rest of the block devoted to parking for about 100 cars.
Bids on construction, mechanical, and electrical work, and other equipment and work will be taken Tuesday by the commissioners.
In the past year, county building bonds for $4.25 million were sold, and additional funds from federal revenue sharing were committed to the project. Offices in the county annex and court- house were studied for current and future space needs. Architect's plans and specifications for construction were drawn up.
Bids on demolition of the full block of buildings were taken. The block has now been razed except for the old Spencer Hotel building at the corner of Fourth and Adams streets.
The old hotel building, containing about 56,000 square feet of space on six stories, is to be renovated to a county office building housing offices now in the county annex and possibly some now in the courthouse..
The new office building will empty the current annex, a remodeled department store building at 428 S. Adams St. If several county offices also are moved to the new building, the extra courthouse space will permit expansion of court related offices such as the clerk and prosecutor's office in the courthouse.
In effect, housing county business offices in the new complex would return the courthouse to the courts.
Attached on the east side of the office building will be a new, four-story building housing the jail and facilities for sheriff’s department. The jail building will contain about 40,000 square feet.
Bid-taking, originally scheduled for mid-December, is more than two months late. But architect Thomas Hickey of LaPorte says he is confident the project. will proceed as planned despite the delay.
Hickey says contracts probably can be awarded within a week after bids are taken, and ground-breaking can begin about a month later.
Construction Is estimated to cost, a total of $5.4 million. Hickey estimates a 22-month construction period – which should mean completion of the project by February of 1981.
Hickey says one major cost-saving change the exterior appearance of the renovated Spencer has been made. since the original architect's drawing was released.
Plans for the contemporary-looking complex were unveiled in November, 1977. Original plans showed the exterior of the hotel building encased entirely in gold-colored, reflective glass panels. Hickey says he has cut much of the ex- pensive glass treatment from the plans to free up funds for other options, G Hickey says the exterior will be combination of 40 percent glass and 60 percent warm-colored concrete panels with an aggregate stone finish...
Bronze-colored, reflective glass windows will run' in a continuous linear pattern around the building, with horizontal bands of concrete separating bands of windows.
The change is a savings of about $200,000 over, the all-glass treatment, Hickey says. The concrete material is about half as expensive per square foot as the colored, reflective glass, about $21 a square foot for the glass compared to $10 or less for the concrete, he says. That change alone cut the exterior cost by $80,000.
And by changing the color of the glass from gold to bronze, the county can save a total of about $200,000, he says. The bronze is a less costly color than the gold, and it. also will match the jail's bullet-resistant glass, which is manufactured in only the bronze tone, he says. ̈
This savings may permit the county to exercise some of several options that otherwise would not have been affordable
Hickey hasn't released the projected costs of the various alternatives because he says it might influence the contractors' cost bids. The biggest option open to the county is finishing two floors in the office building so several departments now in the courthouse can be moved to the new building.
“The only people we originally considered for the office building were people. in the existing annex," he says, "The original proposal was based on replacing the old annex and jail.”
Under that plan, annex offices were to be housed in the new office building including the welfare department, food stamp office, agricultural extension. agent, and health department. That plan meant space was left over in the hotel building.
"That's when overtures were made to the city, that the city police department could be in there. Those floors were not going to be finished by the county, and using all glass on the exterior, was based on not finishing those floors."
When city planners decided to keep the two law enforcement agencies separate, Hickey devised optional plans for housing in the new building several departments now in the courthouse,
Those would be on the second and third floors of the new building. They are assessor, center township assessor, 'and' recorder on the second floor, treasurer and auditor on the third floor.`.
These are other options county officials may choose to include in the project, depending on hów high the bids are:
● Pistol range equipment in the jail. Laundry equipment in the jail
* A computer-logging gasoline pump system for sheriff's deputies' patrol cars and other authorized vehicles.
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- A tape recording device to log calls dispatched.
The bids Tuesday will determine how costly the basic plan is. Hickey says the county could choose to finish only one of the two optional floors, or move offices around if the county cannot afford to finish both floors.
Under the current plan, offices for the weights and measures inspector and the county health department will be on the basement level, CETA administration and the agricultural extension service on the first floor, welfàre department and food stamp office on the fourth and fifth floors, and county commissioners and offices for the Area Plan Commission and surveyor on the sixth floor.
Each floor will have a waiting area with seating by the elevator. The office areas will be carpeted and decorated in neutral colors.
The jail will have a cell capacity of 107 prisoners as well as temporary holding and processing areas.
On the outside, the building will. look much like an office building, Hickey says. But on the inside, it will be ̧de- signed to insure prisoners are kept separate from visitors so drugs or weapons cannot be smuggled inside.
The heart of the jail will be a control room from which deputies can monitor prisoners' conversations and watch them by closed-circuit television. The security elevator serving the jail area also will be controlled from the control room. -
The jail will include lawyer and spouse visitation rooms, an exercise area for prisoners, and solitary confinement quarters. Facilities for prisoner processing, a crime laboratory, and communications. and record-keeping offices will be in the quarters provided for the sheriff's department.
A small commissary with vending machines for county employees will be in the basement.
Plans include a drive through transfer area by the jail, where prisoners are moved directly from the patrol car to the jail. Up-to-date facilities for record-keepIng and communications, as well as prisoner line-up and questioning, are planned,
While Hickey, has estimated a month construction period on the entire project, the recent outcome of a 1 ½ year old lawsuit against the old Grant County Jall says the new jail must be ready for prisoners by Jan. 1, 1981.
A lawsuit filed in federal court on behalf of two former jail inmates who complained that the present, 75 year old jail was not fit to hold prisoners was recently dismissed on the grounds the new project is under way and with the oncidtion the new jail be finished by Jan. 1, 1981.
If necessary, the contractor, could open one floor of jail cells —— enough for 48 prisoners before other parts of the building in order to meet the court imposed deadline, Hickey says.
The lawsuit, which sought to close the old jail, motivated county officials to move quickly on the project.
The opening of bids for the largest building project ever undertaken by the county government, the move that will eventually set the bulldozers and construction workers into motion on the Spencer Hotel block, will come Tuesday.
