The growing prisoner population at the Burleigh County Detention Center has Sheriff Steve Berg proposing a jail study to determine the county's future needs.

Representatives of ICON Architectural Group, at the request of Berg, made a presentation to the Burleigh County Commission on Wednesday, outlining a needs assessment and feasibility study they would conduct for $7,500, 100 percent refundable should the commission determine it will not use the findings.

ICON is involved with regional facilities being built in Rugby and Grand Forks, the latter providing 228 beds at a cost of $16 million.

Berg told commissioners the growth of the community is impacting the jail's population and he believes it's necessary to engage in a process to identify the needs of the jail in the short- and long-term. While the commission showed an interest in the concept, members decided to do some information gathering with plans of bringing the issue back at their September meeting.

"Not what we'll need in just the next five years, but 10 and 20 years down the line,"Berg said. "With the increasing population, we need to give serious consideration on whether we should enlarge in the future."

Todd Mitzel, one of ICON's owners, explained that should the county go ahead with the study, it would begin with a current facility analysis allowing them to understand the crowding issues. The study will look at the inmate mix of federal, state and local prisoners, some of which bring in revenue that can offset the cost of building a new facility.

ICON will do a site study evaluation to determine if the existing facility can be remodeled to meet future needs or whether a new building is needed and where it can be constructed. At the end of the study, a budget is produced that ies in possible financing.

The study will incorporate staff interviews, information from affiliated agencies and growth projections for 10, 25 and 50 years.

"It's a minimum of a three-month process," Mitzel said. "I feel we can get the work done in that time, but if it takes longer the price and guarantee does not change."

Commissioner Doug Schonert has spoken to Morton County officials and they have identified a need for more jail space.

"Perhaps we should be looking at something larger," Schonert said. "We talked about a regional facility in which several counties could participate."

Mitzel explained the Pierce County facility, now under construction, is being developed by a combination of jurisdictions. Elaine Little, the state's former director of corrections, has been hired to run the 150-bed facility that is expected to open by November 2006.

"It appears you have six or seven entities in this community that could make a regional facility concept work,"Mitzel said.

"Regional centers is where we think the trend is going," ICON's Todd Berning said. "The 'big four' cities need to carry that load. Minot is taking a laid-ack approach and just adding a few more beds, while other counties have been more aggressive and are looking at ways to farm out beds to make facilities pay for themselves."

The county is experiencing overcrowding in the courthouse and Mitzel was quick to point out that should a separate site be built, it would free up needed room. The study would include reutilization of space.

A lockup probably would be maintained at the courthouse as prisoners await court appearances, but at the end of the day they would be transported to the regional facility. It was also noted that Grand Forks County is incorporating courtrooms into its facility so prisoners wouldn't have to be transported.

Schonert said he thinks discussions should be held with Morton County and other possible stakeholders before Burleigh agrees to the study, perhaps spreading out some of the expense.

But commissioner Claus Lembke said he thinks a regional facility could be a revenue-maker for Burleigh.

"I'd like to see us have ownership and have the others as our customers,"Lembke said. "I'd rather be in the driver's seat than having to rent from somebody else."

"All I want is to house our prisoners in the most effective and efficient manner," Schonert replied.

Commissioner Marlan Haakenson used the opportunity to promote GPS monitoring of prisoners, allowing them to be placed under house arrest. He said he believes this is the future of detention and will reduce overcrowding and expenses.

Haakenson also questioned the value of a study conducted by a company whose interest is in building a new facility, feeling the outcome of the study will be bias.

Mitzel admitted Haakenson's was a valid concern and ICON is in the business of engineering these facilities. But he added that they were not trying to hide their intentions and the study will provide valuable information on which the commission can base decisions. And should the commission not like the study and its findings, the county wouldn't be out anything because the money will be refunded.

"I think it's wise of the sheriff to pursue this,"Lembke said. "It seems to me there is a need for jails, and I think it reasonable to hire these people."

Lembke made a motion to enter into a contract with ICON, but it died for lack of a second. Schonert said he also feels it is a good idea, but wasn't ready to second.

"I'm not sure that we want ownership and I'd like to postpone this until our September meeting to find out if Morton County is interested,"Schonert said.

Mitzel noted three counties in Minnesota combined to build a facility, each having equal control in management.

"They had problems on agreeing and this watered down their effectiveness,"Mitzel said.