County officials tour Rugby jail

County commissioners from Burleigh and Morton were joined by local law enforcement officials in taking a tour of the North Central Corrections and Rehabilitation Center in Rugby earlier this week.

The new $7 million-plus facility has been in the news lately because of cash flow problems and its inability to pay on its loan.

Burleigh County commissioner Doug Schonert set up the trip to provide commissioners a perspective on what a new detention center will consist. Both Morton's and Burleigh's jails are running at or near capacity and projections indicate the need for greater capacity in the very near future.

Schonert says there wasn't much discussion among the commissioners about throwing in together to build a facility.

"We're waiting to see what the Legislature is doing. We'd like to participate with them if they decide to build a new prison," Schonert said. "Maybe we could lease part of the old prison or maybe even contract with them for our prisoners."

But Schonert admits he's somewhat discouraged with the lawmakers' approach to the prison issue. He doesn't expect a resolution to the prison issue to come out of this session and having to wait two more years plus what ever time it takes to construct a prison is likely longer than Burleigh can wait.

The new jail in Rugby has about the same capacity that Burleigh has now. In other words, Burleigh will need a significantly larger facility.

The National Institute of Corrections recently provided Burleigh with the results of a justice system assessment it did for the county. Sheriff Pat Heinert has been distributing the report to the commissioners, law enforcement officials, state's attorneys and judges for review. Soon, Schonert said, some joint meetings will be set up to discuss the results and recommendations made by the report.

"County commissions build jails, detention officers manage them and state's attorneys and judges fill them," Schonert said. "After everybody has reviewed this report we're going to have some meetings."

Elaine Little, director of the North Central facility, guided the tour, according to Schonert. She told the group that the payments on the facility should have been delayed for four to six months rather than having them start the day the doors opened. Little expects by the year's end the corrections center will be at 85 percent capacity creating the cash flow needed to pay its loan. Schonert estimated the facility is just over half full presently.

Bridge update

Next week Lunda Construction will be putting a barge with crane back on the river in the continuing effort to build the new Liberty Memorial Bridge.

Boaters are urged to keep an eye out for the barge which will be moved around. Buoys mark the "no-wake zone" and the restricted area.

"The subcontractor Strata Construction will begin work on Memorial Highway, the median between the lanes, the intersections and traffic lights on both ends of the bridge," reported public information coordinator Mike Kopp. "Specific lane closures and other traffic advisories will be posted as the changes occur. The changes are part of the realignment of the roadway to match the new bridge position and dimensions."

Pandemic forums

Monday to Sunday is National Public Health Week and Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health will begin a series of public information forums on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.

Two "Pandemic Flu - Prepare Now" presentations will be held Tuesday. The first is from noon to 1 p.m. at the Bismarck Public Works building and the second is at the Doublewood Inn at 7 p.m.

A tree for Patience

Dave Patience, a fixture at planning commission meetings, is being honored by having Bismarck's Arbor Day tree dedicated to him.

Patience served 22 years on the Bismarck Forestry Advisory Board providing insight and direction on forestry issues affecting the community. The official Arbor Day ceremony is scheduled for May 4.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)