State officials explain closing of Jean prison, building another

CARSON CITY -- To many, it doesn't make sense to build a $50 million state prison to take care of more inmates and then close an existing prison in Southern Nevada.

But state Budget Director Perry Comeaux said Tuesday the proposed mothballing of the prison at Jean and transferring its inmates to a new prison near Indian Springs will save $8 million over a two-year period.

The state is building an $83 million prison at Cold Springs with 1,000 beds. Gov. Kenny Guinn wants an additional $50.7 million prison with 1,000 beds at the site.

When the second phase is completed, expected in August 2000, the Jean prison, built in the late 1970s, would be closed. Administration officials say California and Arizona have expressed interest in leasing the prison space.

But there may be a hitch. Jean has deteriorated, and state Public Works Board Manager Eric Raecke estimated Tuesday it would cost more than $8 million to bring it up to standard to be ready to lease. There is no money in the budget for this rehabilitation work.

Comeaux and Raecke agree the state will need to reclaim Jean in a year or two after it is closed to handle the continuous influx of inmates.

Jean was shut down during the budget crunch in the early 1990s during the administration of Gov. Bob Miller with the inmates being shifted to Indian Springs. It was later re-opened.

The first phase of Cold Springs will cost about $30 million more than the second phase because the initial construction includes kitchen and mess halls for 3,000 inmates plus many of the core facilities that won't be needed in further expansion programs.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, hinted the second phase of Cold Springs may not be approved by this session.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, said the second phase of Cold Springs will be "one of the most controversial proposals" submitted by Guinn to the Legislature.

Sletten Construction of Nevada was awarded the contract for construction of the first phase, and under Guinn's proposal, the state would negotiate with Sletten to do the second phase without going to a public bid.

That has two advantages, Raecke said. Going to bid would delay the project six months, and Sletten is committed to build the second phase at the same prices, without adding inflation.

Closing Jean would mean the layoff of 159 employees, but many of the workers would transfer to Cold Springs.

Guinn also proposed allowing private companies to provide all of the medical care for the prisons, which would mean a layoff of 320 employees in July. Some of them would probably find work with the new private employer.

Comeaux told the legislative budget committees the move to a private contractor would save $4 million, but many legislators were skeptical.

Assemblywoman Jan Evans, D-Sparks, wanted to see the savings from privatizing medical services at Ely State Prison. There have been problems with the medical care at Ely.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, suggested the trend is now moving away from bringing in private companies to run prisons. He said many lawsuits are being filed against the operations.

Comeaux said the Guinn proposal will only be for medical services, not the operation of the full prison.

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