New jail for Shasta County moves forward; local architectural firm hired

Shasta County has contracted with Nichols Melburg & Rossetto Architects to do preliminary design work on a new jail and rehabilitation center.

Patrick Minturn, acting county executive officer, said the county is paying the Redding architectural firm $50,000 for the services.

Nichols Melburg & Rossetto will draw up designs for expanding the current jail site at West Street or create a new jail at a yet-to-be-determined site, Minturn told the Record Searchlight after Tuesday’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The news comes as supervisors on Aug. 16 are expected to weigh in on what they want to see in a new jail and rehabilitation center.

Supervisor Les Baugh, who chairs the board, said during Tuesday’s meeting that the August meeting will be a “pivotal” step toward building a new jail.

“I think just as a board what we are going to be called to do in August is literally make a decision that kicks us forward, period, without any additional delays. … (It) will give us some forward momentum that does more than just talk about it,” Baugh said.

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In May, supervisors voted unanimously to allocate $25 million of the $35 million from the American Recovery Plan Act money the county is receiving toward the construction of a jail.

Supervisors have been told that it would cost $100 million to $125 million for a new jail and rehabilitation center. Former county executive officer Matt Pontes has said the new jail facility could be built with a combination of county general fund dollars, state and federal funds, and possibly bond funds.

A few public speakers at Tuesday’s meeting wondered where the county was in getting the new jail built.

“It needs to be moved along a little bit quicker,” one speaker said. “Something needs to be done. Our jail is just expanding. We have too many people in there and not enough beds.”

Sheriff Michael Johnson said space in the jail will get tighter, noting that Lassen County has just canceled its contract with Shasta County.

“We outsource 20 to 22 beds to the Lassen County jail. … So we will get those 22 prisoners back in mid-August,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Lassen County terminated the contract not because it was unhappy with Shasta County but because it doesn't have the staffing to handle the extra inmates.

Some who spoke Tuesday wondered if the new jail needs a rehabilitation center, noting that the county should simply build a jail first.

Baugh reminded the public that that question was answered when supervisors voted to spend $25 million ARPA funds to help build the jail.

Supervisors were told by County Counsel Rubin Cruse that more ARPA money could be used for the jail if ancillary components within the jail, like mental health services and job placement programs, were included in the facility.

“The question of whether or not it will contain some type of rehabilitation was answered by a 5-0 vote,” Baugh said.

“The question put to this board is what are the most valuable rehabilitation elements. There is zero doubt that without rehabilitation we will continue to put them on the streets after they serve their time,”

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: New jail for Shasta County moves forward; local architectural firm hired