Commissioners cautiously take step toward new jail

Critical questions about a proposed new jail in Cheyenne County – such as how big, how much it’ll cost and can the county afford it – could be answered in coming months.

This week, the county’s board of commissioners approved a letter of engagement with D.A. Davidson, a bond underwriter.

Paul Schaub, Cheyenne County attorney, explained that while the agreement does not force the county to maintain the firm as the underwriter if a bond is issued for the project, it allows D.A. Davidson to collect information and offer direction.

“This is a typical part of a project when building a new facility,” he said. “You get an underwriter on board to assist in collecting information.”

At this point, there is no charge for the firm’s services, County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said.

Before a final agreement with the firm to underwrite the project could be signed, funding would have to be in place, Schaub added.

“Basically, [D.A. Davidson] is a holding company,” he explained. “When new projects come up and bonds are available for a project, they get in contact with investors who purchase the bonds.”

As the county explores how to pay for a new jail – and what the facility would look like – Commissioner Philip Sanders said D.A. Davidson’s expertise will be beneficial.

“They’ll help answer the questions we need answered,” he said.

In the past five years, the firm underwrote more than $2 billion in bonds throughout Nebraska.

The existing Cheyenne County Jail was built in the 1960s and often operates at capacity. As the county’s population has increased, so too has the jail’s average-day population.

At present, the jail can house up to 20 inmates – but if modern standards and regulations were applied, that number would drop to six. Additionally, the jail is unable to house females or inmates with mental health concerns. Instead, other counties are paid to take custody of those individuals.

A feasibility study examining the construction of a new facility has been completed and architects have created draft plans of what the jail could look like.

Last month, the various conceptual drawings of a 48-bed jail were presented to the commissioners.

The price tag for a new jail is estimated to be between $13.4 million and $13.8 million, and the plans call for the current courthouse building to be expanded to accommodate the larger jail as well as renovations to the courtrooms and offices.