By Cy Ryan

Tue, Aug 12, 2008 (3:27 p.m.)

CARSON CITY – Closure of the 145-year-old Nevada State Prison in Carson City has the backing of Gov. Jim Gibbons who says it’s getting too costly to operate.

“It’s an old facility and it has high infrastructure costs,’’ said Gibbons, chairman of the state Prison Board, which heard a recommendation for shutting down the prison and transferring the inmates to other facilities.

Howard Skolnik, director of the state Department of Corrections, said it costs $19 million a year to confine the prison’s 900 inmates. And in addition, up to four of the nine honor camps may have to close under the proposal to cut 14.2 percent from the upcoming state budget.

“It (the prison) costs far more than the other facilities,” Skolnik said after the board meeting.

Jeff Fontaine, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties, said the closure of honor camps in the rural counties would hurt services. The inmate crews fight fires, work on roads and do other projects. “The impact would be relatively severe,” he told the prison board.

Gene Columbus, a correctional officer at the Nevada State Prison for 10 years, told the board, “We can’t cut 14 percent and do it effectively and safely.” He said prisons were “a booming business” and he opposed shutting down the Carson City prison.

“Keep the prison open and find somewhere else to cut,” he urged the board.

It’s costing more to make repairs to the prison. The state Board of Examiners Tuesday approved a $33,723 contract to replace a leaking hot water heater and storage tank. Water lines in the main building are more than 50 years old and are deteriorating.

It will be up to the 2009 Legislature to decide whether to shut down the prison and the honor camps.

The prison is one of the oldest operating penitentiaries in the United States.

A report by the state Public Works Board found high winds rock the guard towers surrounding the prison. The sewer system is deteriorating in many of the 45 buildings on the grounds. It would cost millions of dollars to bring the prison up to code.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.