By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
The new Saline County Jail project took another step forward this morning.
More than 50 people turned out on a chilly, blustery Wednesday morning for the ceremonial groundbreaking at 800 E. Pacific, the site where the new jail and Saline County Sheriff's Office is to be built.
County Commission Chair Rodger Sparks convened the event as an official commission meeting as all county commissioners were present. Also attending the ceremony were current and former local law enforcement personnel, county personnel, civic leaders, and interested citizens.
"I want to thank you for being here this morning and welcome you to a very important spot for the future of our community," Sparks told those assembled. "Beginning in just a few weeks and opening by the end of 2023, this will become the home of a new, 392-bed jail and sheriff's office for Saline County. This represents a voter-approved investment of more than $89 million in the future of the public safety in our community."
Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said today was a "pretty exciting day," as moving the idea of a new jail to reality has been a long time coming.
"I think we probably should reflect back on former Sheriff Glen Kochanowski. He really started the ball rolling in 2011," Soldan said.
At the time, Kochanowski and his staff, as well as other county officials put in a great deal of work to convince voters that a new jail was needed, however voters failed to approve a new jail in 2014.
"In hindsight, that project wasn't big enough," Soldan said.
According to Soldan, the site of the new jail/sheriff's office is the first location that officials considered for the project.
Soldan noted that since 2011, the push for a new jail has prompted a number of positive changes for Saline County law enforcement, including Drug Court and pre-trial services.
"We've had quite a partnership with the public and we've had a lot of input from the public. And I see some of those faces here today," he said.
Soldan explained that the project is more than just a bigger jail, noting that sheriff's office personnel each will have his/her own locker, something they don't currently have. Additionally, all staff areas will have windows. Currently some offices are in the center of the building and only have artifical light. Sheriff's office personnel also will have a dedicated breakroom, also something the current sheriff's office lacks.
As for the jail, there will be dedicated beds for special needs as well as a medical unit for inmates with medical needs, Soldan said. Additionally, there will be space dedicated to programming.
Soldan said he appreciated the county commissioners as a group for their support on the project.
"They took time to listen. But also individually because they all took time out of their busy lives to tour our other facility, to come and see me when they had questions," Soldan said. "You know, it wasn't like they just voted on something. They actually studied this problem, because nobody wants to spend or even put it in front of the voters to spend this kind of money if it wasn't important to the public, so I appreciate the work you five guys have done."
Soldan also thanked former county commissioner Luci Larson and North Salina Community Development's Barb Young for their help in getting word out to voters about the need for a new jail.
"I would consider them my angels because we didn't have many last year, but they were there for us and they really helped spread the word," he said.
While thanking many other people, Soldan also made a point of thanking the voters of Saline County.
"But most of all, the citizens of Saline County for stepping up and supporting local law enforcement and supporting this project, and helping us get this passed. Thank you," he said.