There may have been dollar signs in the eyes of some county supervisors when it was suggested this summer that a juvenile facility in Shawano could generate up to $1.4 million a year in annual revenue for the county.
On Oct. 1, Sheriff George Lenzner said he wasn’t convinced the move would be in the best interests of the county. At a minimum, he told public safety committee members to be cautious when discussing the matter.
“If it was this great of an idea, others would be doing it, too,” Lenzner said.
He said he and Troy Beyer, jail administrator, discussed the matter at length.
At the public property committee in August, Cory Beyer (no relation), of Venture Architects, suggested the Huber facility could be partially converted into a juvenile detention center, and state grant money could help pay for the necessary remodeling.
There is a statewide need for more juvenile facilities. Fees charged range from $375-$1,000 a day.
“You house eight individuals 80% of the time for that year, so 292 days,” Cory Beyer said. “It equates to about $1.4 million a year that you could generate for revenue.”
He said the county could use its existing correctional officer staffing levels without having to hire more employees.
Lenzner pointed out that the county would need to hire teachers and mental health experts for the juvenile facility, which was not discussed earlier.
There is also extensive training required for anyone working in a juvenile facility.
“There’s so much you have to offer,” Lenzner said. “They don’t lock up juveniles like they used to.”
Troy Beyer said the county has spent $12,000 so far this year on housing juveniles outside of the county.
Supervisor Jeremy Gretzinger suggested it might be wiser to add more beds to a new jail and house inmates from other counties, if the desire is to make money for the county.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
