It could be another two years until voters in Corvallis see a proposal for a new jail on the ballot. The Benton County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 at a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 30, to not move forward with the proposed site in South Corvallis, meaning that alternate sites will have to be considered..
Benton County filed a letter of intent to purchase a 65-acre lot located on Highway 99W at Kiger Island Drive for $900,000 to house the new jail. Wednesday was the deadline for the county to decide whether to move forward with the purchase.
The proposal to build a new jail is a part of the Justice System Improvement Program, which would fund a local crisis center, a new jail, a new courthouse, and a sheriff’s office. Voters will most likely not see the project on the ballot until May of 2023.
Nick Kurth, the project manager, said the county is taking its time to make sure the project is done right.
“The timing is very much a reflection of its preparation and planning the County has put into getting this right,” said Kurth. “The proposed new correctional facility will have approximately 120 beds, which will accommodate 20 years of County growth.”
The county has also filed a letter of intent to purchase a 35-acre property, located near Reservoir Avenue, and are scheduled to talk about it at their next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14. A decision needs to be made on the plot of land by Dec. 15.
By Jennifer Williams
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