CHEROKEE COUNTY JAIL

We are astounded by the numbers being pushed by Cherokee County Sheriff Bob
Creech as justification for building a new jail.

Apparently, the county went from paying no money in 1996 for housing
inmates outside the county to $312,000 just five years later. Creech says
the county is paying for an average of 60 inmates a day to be housed
elsewhere. The current jail, he says, holds about 24 inmates.

Those numbers, though neither he nor Cherokee County Commissioner Pat
Collins were specific, reflect a rising number of drug arrests, most
centering on methamphetamine.

We do not doubt the drug problem. We do, however, need to know a lot more
before we could recommend voters approving a half-cent sales tax for a new
jail.

Both Columbus and Galena are considering jail plans. The latter is
pondering a proposed $11 million operation that, basically, would use it as
an inmate hotel to raise money.

Columbus has suggested partnering with the county through a "certificates
of participation" plan. Under the proposal, the city would finance and
oversee construction of the jail and the county would lease it. After 20
years, the county would take ownership.

We're not sure why commissioners rejected the idea. Collins' only statement
was that he didn't want to put the city in debt. Columbus, however, already
seems inclined to move ahead with the plan.

Clearly something needs to be done about inmate housing in Cherokee County
and it makes sense to address the issue now rather than later. We would
urge, however, county officials to open discussions with both Galena and
Columbus, as well as research the rapid rise in inmate population.