New Vigo County jail could be located across from U.S. Penitentiary, official says

Anderson made the statement in response to a question from Councilman Jim Mann, who questioned the third section of a resolution submitted by commissioners for land appraisals.

The first two sections would appoint and pay two appraisers to determine the fair market value of property on the northeast corner of the intersection of Prairieton Road and Springhill Drive. 

The third section, Mann said, would allow commissioners to purchase that land if the resolution is approved by the full Vigo County Council. That decision would come at the council’s March 12 meeting.

“This goes beyond getting the two appraisals. This moves it down the field quite a bit,” Mann said. “Is this THE site? Are there other sites, or is this THE site?,” Mann asked.

“This is the site we have chosen, yes,” Anderson said. “If everything works. You have to have everything ready to go. We have done soil borings. The appraisals are one thing, but we have to be able to buy the property.”

Anderson said the county would seek property owned by the Harlan and Farmer families as well as land immediately adjacent to the north and owned by S&G Excavating. 

County Attorney Michael Wright said the property can be obtained if the sellers are willing to sell. Wright said the county cannot, by law, offer more than the average of two appraisals.

Councilman Mike Morris said site preparation could raise the cost of the property. He asked if site preparation costs make the property more expensive, “so that would be compared against another site and the total cost of the site?” 

Anderson said yes.

“That would be a consideration in your purchase?” Morris asked.

“Yes,” Anderson said.

Commissioners in July 2017 began looking at other sites than the Harlan/Farmer site after discovering part of the property would require foundation work to compact sandy soil.

The type of foundation suggested for that property is a rammed aggregate foundation system, which at the time was projected to add up to $200,000 to the cost of construction. The method was used during construction on a second federal prison property near the Wabash River.

Anderson said the nearby S&G property can resolve site issues for the property.

Anderson said the S&G property contains “a pit there, with some of the dirt taken out for the Walmart project. If we purchase that property, we have dirt on site to be able to move and that can also be used for surface drainage, which would save us some money also,” he said. 

Wright said commissioners have applied for a subdivision to combine the proposed parcels into one single large parcel and establish a base elevation. That parcel would have to be rezoned into an “open space” category by the Vigo County Plan Commission.

Then a special exception, Wright said, would have to be granted by the Vigo County Board of Zoning Appeals “to permit a correctional facility, a jail on property that is zoned for open space,” Wright said.

Mann sought to add the words “with council approval” to the resolution’s third section. Wright said the only concern is it would take two months for the council to vote on approval. Wright said if this site is not purchased, commissioners must return to the council with another similar resolution for appraisals for a different property.

Councilwoman Vicki Weger moved to approve the request with a favorable recommendation. Mann suggested the committee should not move the issue to the full council with a recommendation. Weger withdrew her motion.

After further discussion, Weger then moved to approve the request with no recommendation. Mann seconded that motion.

The committee voted 2-1, with Morris opposing.

“I would have voted to send this to the full council with a favorable recommendation,” Morris said.