ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 TAG: 9610300025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Residents from just outside Dublin opposing a regional jail being built in the town's industrial park sought help Monday night from Pulaski County to spike the project.
They didn't get it.
The county Board of Supervisors listened patiently as four representatives of the anti-jail delegation spoke about their concerns.
Then the supervisors moved on to their next agenda item without comment.
Shortly before the end of the meeting, two more citizens addressed the board. "I'm against a regional jail in Pulaski County," said Dale Hoffman. "Maybe I'm speaking too late."
He may have been, because design plans for the project must start almost at once to meet state deadlines for 50 percent construction funding. There is no time now to seek another site, if the participating localities - the city of Radford and counties of Pulaski, Giles, Grayson, Bland and probably Floyd which now wants to be added - are to stay qualified for the state money.
Pulaski supervisors Chairman Joe Sheffey explained to Hoffman that, if a locality builds its own jail, the most it can get from the state is 25 percent on construction.
Currently, however, the state has placed all jail projects on hold until further notice. The New River Valley Regional Jail was the last in the state to qualify for the 50 percent funding.
Supervisor Bruce Fariss suggested that Hoffman go look at Pulaski County's existing jail, so he will see that it will eventually have to be replaced. A bond issue probably would be necessary to finance a new county jail, he said.
The regional jail authority would operate like the New River Resource Authority, borrowing the necessary money for its facilities and repaying the loan with revenue from day-to-day operations, Fariss said. The amount paid by each locality will depend on how many prisoners it sends to the regional jail.
The board arguments did not convince Hoffman's wife, Faye, who recalled a Dublin woman being raped years ago by a prisoner who had wandered off from a work crew. Board members made no further comment.
Earlier speakers included John Wenrich, who said petitions with 783 signatures of people opposing the jail - including 343 Dublin residents - had been submitted to Dublin Town Council last week. Council still voted approval of the necessary zoning amendment paving the way for the jail to be built in its industrial park.
"The Dublin Town Council treated us very shabbily. They didn't respect our wishes," Bob O'Neal told the board. He asked that the county withdraw from the regional jail authority or enact a requirement for a two-mile buffer zone between any jail in an industrial park and the nearest homes.
"I have nightmares over it. I can't even sleep at night," said Anna Whitt, whose brother in another state was killed by escaped convicts some years ago. "You're not safe around places like that."
"This came as kind of a shock to us in the surrounding area of Dublin," said Arnold Edwards. But none of the speakers prompted any board action.
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