Justin Langston
Staff Writer

    County Commissioner Phil Carson last week laid out a plan for building a new jail for the county during a 22-minute powerpoint presentation to area law enforcement officials titled “Canadian County Needs a New Jail”.
   The presentation, titled “Canadian County Needs A New Jail”, attempts to explain why county officials feel a new jail is needed, estimated costs for building such a jail and the projected size of  the proposed  facility.
   “I think it’s a good plan,” Piedmont Police Chief Jerry Koester said.  “I think it’s something we should be working to sell to the people of the county.”
   The presentation, put together after the state fire inspector threatened to close down the jail two weeks ago laid out the plans county officials have for putting together a new, 308 bed jail to serve the county.
   The plan, with an estimated price tag of around $17.8 million, will construct a 75,000 square foot building on the block just north of the judicial buildings in El Reno and will be designed to American Correctional Association standards. 
   The building will be divided into four “pods” which will house 64 inmates each.  Additionally, the jail will contain maximum security cells, medical cells and a trustee dorm to round out the numbers.  The pods will have security officers within them, as well as visiting and recreation areas, allowing the inmates to be guarded and supervised at all times.
   The plan also includes a possibility for future expansion, based on numerous factors. 
   The report says each cell could contain an additional bed, adding 148 beds total.  Further, the property the jail will be built on is large enough to allow the county to build on additional wings if it becomes necessary.
   It is estimated  it will take around 18 months to two years to construct the new jail.

 See the rest of the story in the Feb. 18th edition of the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette.