2017-342-Minutes for Meeting June 14,1988 Recorded 6/22/2017Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2017-342
Nancy Blankenship, County Clerk
Commissioners' Journal 06/22/2017 1:29:42 PM
For Recording Stamp Only
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Bend, Oregon
DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Audio Cassette Recording Titled: WORK SESSION ON SITING A STATE MINIMUM
SECURITY PRISON FACILITY
June 14, 1988; 1:30-3:00 PM
A meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on June 14, 1988.
Commissioners present were Lois Prante, Dick Maudlin and Tom Throop. Also
present were Rick Isham, County Counsel; County Administrator Mike Maier; and
other staff; plus District Attorney Mike Dugan, the Redmond Police Chief, and
Judge Perkins. Also in attendance were members of the general public and the
media. This was not a public hearing.
Mr. Throop said that some people are in attendance today because they are
concerned about the siting process. The Committee's role is extremely limited in
regard to the overall corrections system for the State.
Therefore, there won't be any public testimony taken, except from those agencies
involved in the siting process.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Special Meeting, June 14, 1988 Page 1 of 5
The sites that were left on the proposal were discussed. #1 is Powell Butte
Highway near McGrath Road, near the sewage treatment facility. #2 is north on
Highway 97 towards Redmond, and west on SW 61st Street. #3 is east on Highway
20, past the Pine Mountain Cattle Company. #4 is east on Highway 20 at
Milepost 7, and #5 at Harmony Lane. The last two involve County -owned
properties.
Mr. Throop first wanted to consider #1, #4 and #5. #3 would cost $80,000 to
purchase. However, the State is supposedly providing the funds.
Mr. Dugan looked site #1 and site #3, and agrees that those would be his first
choices. He did not specifically look at the others, but they are a bit further out.
The State will consider the distance to fire protection services, hospitals and
police services. He would rate #1 as his first choice, and #3 as his second choice.
He does not think they should consider the two off Highway 97. There are too
many small farms and residences in those areas.
There was a consensus to drop the ones off Highway 97 for that reason.
The group then discussed the pros and cons of the remaining sites at length,
including access, the surrounding occupants and uses, and the potential costs of
purchase and development. They would prefer to be as far away from
development as possible, to avoid conflicts with the general public, but taking
into account access to services.
Mr. Maier said he would like to narrow the choices down to site #1 and site #3,
with #5 as a backup. Mr. Dugan agreed.
It was pointed out that there won't be a final selection without a hearing, and
that this is not the appropriate time to take testimony from the public. This is
going to be a long process since it involves the State. The Siting Committee will
come up with selections, and there will be a hearing on each. Most of the
committee members have visited the various sites.
At this time, people in the audience started giving their thoughts on the issue.
The committee members addressed some of them.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Special Meeting, June 14, 1988 Page 2 of 5
The State Site Review Committee will receive recommendations, and they will
have to go through a complete process. This includes whether the State has
enough funding to follow through, and a needs assessment. It is possible the
State may decide on locating this facility in Jefferson or Crook County. The State
may decide to use its own property for siting, or may decide against a site due to
significant public opposition.
They are not limited to just the sites that are recommended by the local
committee. The appropriate time to consider testimony is when there is
something more firm on the table. This is a very preliminary step in the overall
process. This is not the proper forum to discuss any of these issues.
One citizen said that they are wasting the taxpayers' money by pursuing this at
this time without public input. Mr. Maudlin said they are addressing an increasing
crime situation and this is just one step in this process. It is not just a State
problem, but a local one as well. However, this is not the appropriate time or
place for this kind of debate.
Mr. Maier said they have received a number of letters regarding sites that are
currently for sale or which have owners that would consider a sale for this
purpose.
The group was supportive on sites #1, #3 and #5, with one no vote from Mr.
Maudlin.
Citizens expressed concern about the group being more concerned about the
prison site than they are about local families. No one wants a prison anywhere
near where they live. Mr. Dugan explained that there are crime problems here
although most people don't seem to realize it. It was pointed out that it is better
that these criminals are confined rather than remaining on the streets. There are
not enough prisons to contain them.
There will be residences around all of these sites at some level, whether within a
mile or two.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Special Meeting, June 14, 1988 Page 3 of 5
The committee members considered whether to look at additional sites, possibly
east of town. Perhaps this could be pursued with the BLM. However, these are
probably too far out to satisfy the State's criteria.
Mr. Throop asked if there is any site that no one would complain about. There is
a lot of BLM land out there with no nearby housing. However, there is mandatory
criteria per the State. (A long, heated discussion then occurred.)
The establishment of a labor camp was then discussed. Some committee
members felt this would be very inappropriate. Mr. Dugan pointed out that local
jail crews have been working in parks and other areas for over a year, and these
crews do not include hard-core criminals. There have been no problems with this
local program.
The group will consider other sites if recommended to them. Mr. Throop will get
in touch with the BLM and see if they have anything that might be feasible for this
purpose.
One citizen said that the County jail is run very well, and she would prefer to see it
expanded. Mr. Maier noted that it is filled to the maximum, and it costs about
$60,000 per bed. It also costs more to add staff and other facilities to it.
Taxpayers may want the jail space but don't want to pay more for staffing it. The
State jail would be paid for by the State.
Mr. Dugan added that the Courts have a problem because there is not enough jail
space to hold people for as long as they should be. These people end up being
released after a short time. Therefore, more are being sent to the county jails
instead of prisons. This results in overcrowded local jails. And those who offend
at a lesser level are being released quickly or are just being cited. Those people
are being put back on the street.
Mr. Maier said that efforts to build more prisons has gone to the voters twice,
and has been defeated both times. It went down three to one in Deschutes
County. It is a big problem that people say they want addressed, but they are not
willing to pay what it costs.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Special Meeting, June 14, 1988 Page 4 of 5
Mr. Maudlin stated he will do what he thinks is best for the County. Mr. Dugan
noted that statewide meetings were held for four months last year on this issue,
and the public had a lot of opportunities to participate, but few of them did.
Mr. Maudlin wants to know what constitutes a minimum security prisoner. He
thinks that the public wants to know this as well, along with other particulars. He
would like to see more people aware of the whole situation and have an
opportunity to be involved.
A discussion of the State timeline then occurred. There is a good deal of time to
work on this, possibly up to over a year, because the State is dealing with
southern counties first.
1 certify that the above is a true and accurate record of a meeting, as reproduced from a
cassette tape identified as Minutes of a Meeting of the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners, held on June 14, 1988. This record was completed subsequent to the presiding
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners' tenure.
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v
Bonnie Baker
For the Board of County Commissioners
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Special Meeting, June 14, 1988 Page 5 of 5