Brown County may get a chance to obtain a better facility for their juvenile justice needs if the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) approves the request for transfer of the Ron Jackson Unit 2 to Brown County. At the Brown County Commissioners’ Court on Tuesday, a resolution expressing interest in acquiring this facility was approved.
According to Brown County Judge Ray West, Senate Bill 653 was passed last year, merging TYC into TJJD and calling for closings of the then Texas Youth Commission facilities, including the Ron Jackson Unit 2 (previously used for males at TYC). It also allowed for these facilities to be transferred to cities or counties for use in juvenile justice programs or economic development, anything that would benefit local government.
The Ron Jackson Unit 2 facility can house up to 130 people at maximum capacity. According to West, the facility was built approximately in the mid 1970s, constructed better than the county’s current facility and is not in a flood plain, which makes the Ron Jackson Unit 2 facility much more desirable, county officials said.
West stated that this facility would be ideal for the county because the current juvenile justice facility is in poor condition. The building currently being used as the holdover facility for juveniles is located on Houston Street and had been previously Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Officials stated that the acquisition of the Ron Jackson Unit 2 facility would allow better working conditions for employees as well as better housing for juveniles who are waiting for transfers to other counties’ juvenile detention centers (usually in Abilene or Belton), and that the extra building space could be utilized for programs needed regionally for juvenile justice education/training classrooms. The unit has approximately 50 acres which may also be feasible for a gun range for law enforcement (shooting toward the mountain and not residential areas pointed out West).
“As you know, our holdover facility which Mr. Williams operates and our juvenile probation offices are currently housed in what we generously refer to as a ‘building’ on Houston Street, which used to be the jail and sheriff’s office. In an interview last week, I used the term ‘falling down around our ears,’” said West. “The building is in terrible condition and I wish to ask the state (TJJD) to transfer Ron Jackson 2 to Brown County. There will be other uses that will benefit law enforcement and juvenile justice, primarily to relocate our juvenile holdover and probation offices to that facility.”
According to West, a letter was recently sent to TJJD which expressed Brown County’s interest to transfer the unit to the county; however officials at TJJD suggested that a resolution be passed, so that the state would know that the entire Brown County Commissioners’ Court was in fact behind this action.
J.R. Williams who operates the Juvenile Justice building for Brown County stated that the facility was in poor condition and that one particular office has weeds growing into it due to the cracks and settling of the building. He did note that the Ron Jackson Unit 2 building did have one noticeable crack due to settling; however was in much better condition.
Commissioners Gist, Adams and Kelton voiced concerns of the cost to the county to run such a large facility with multiple buildings. West stated that the current building has kept maintenance workers busy with repairs and other unnecessary costs related to lost heating and cooling due to cracks in the structure.
“I have no doubt that it will take less time, maintenance wise, to maintain the filters and etc. of this building that it did in the Houston Street building because he (the man in charge of maintenance currently) has constantly been faced with leaking issues, air conditioner issues and having to rob parts off of this one and the other,” West said. “Until July or August this facility (Ron Jackson Unit 2) was up and running, fully operational and full.”
The holdover facility is used until juveniles can be transferred to detention facilities in Abilene or Belton. Other counties sometimes contract to hold juveniles in the Brown County holdover facility, especially if they don’t have a holdover facility in their counties before transfer to a detention facility. Williams pointed out that by being a holdover facility, the county saves costs, and that detention centers cost approximately three times as much to run, having higher restrictions on personnel and required staff, such as an onsite doctor.
West stated that part of the transfer may require an easement to allow current TJJD employees to park in the large lot on Ron Jackson Unit 2.
West will attend a TJJD Board meeting on January 20th to formally present the request for Brown County. West further explained that the request can be withdrawn before January 19th, if commissioners find the facility is not feasible for any reason.
In other matters on the agenda:
*Commissioners approved a proposal for labor and equipment cost for two water heater (boiler) installations at the Brown County Jail. Captain Tony Aaron reported that an estimate was presented at a recent commissioners’ court meeting and the court asked that other bids be obtained. Letters were sent to 6 other companies and 4 estimates were received. The lowest bid was received from Lockridge Priest out of Waco for $21,840, which was $7,000 less than the original estimate. Aaron reported that the estimate also included a pledge to keep one of the units running while the other is replaced, in order to meet state requirements that the jail not be without water for more than 48 hours during the repair. Lockridge Priest has also offered that if one of the units fails before the installation is completed, that they would be able to rent a boiler for temporary use until the installation is completed. Aaron also stated that officials at the McLennon County Jail recently employed Lockridge Priest to do a similar job and that they had no complaints or problems with the company. It is estimated that the equipment’s arrival and installation will be completed by mid February. Captain Aaron reported that the jail count was 121 as of Tuesday morning.
*Approval was granted for a water utility easement on County Road 411, in precinct 2. This installation is at the site of the new gym at the May school and requires a road bore. Approval is subject to county specifications.
*Commissioners gave permission for the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) to offer medicare supplements to retired county employees. The supplement program is called County Choice Silver Option.
