CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — The Chester County Detention Center needs major repairs, according to an engineering analysis presented before council. The problem: the estimated cost of the repairs is almost $4 million.
The jail houses approximately 90 inmates. Moseley Architects, an architecture firm in Charlotte, found major structural, plumbing, and mechanical issues at the 50-year-old facility.
The original jail itself was built in the 1970’s, and an addition to the jail was added in 2009. However, Sheriff Max Dorsey says there are already signs of a major structural issues even in the newer portion.
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“When I became the sheriff in 2019, there were a lot of things we needed to address,” he said. “One of those things was the condition of the detention facility. It was brought to my attention that were structural issues becoming apparent.”
In addition to cracks in the walls and separation gaps in the flooring, some of the cell doors get stuck because the weight of the building is distributed unevenly, Dorsey explained.
“As the building shifts, everything else shifts with it,” he said during a tour of the jail, “so some of these doors begin to jam.”
Dorsey said detention officers are often stuck coming up with ways around the issues, creating temporary fixes to keep things operating.
The recreation rooms often flood when there are heavy rains, so in one of the rooms, detention officers created a makeshift dam at the door to stop water from coming into the building.
Moseley Architects presented an engineering analysis to the Chester County Council. It showed repairs could cost around $4 million.
In an email to WCNC Charlotte, county council member Pete Wilson said he is aware of the issues, and wants to see the county address the problems in the near future.
“This is no surprise, but funding for these major needs will be a challenge,” said Wilson. “We are looking at all the possible options for funding at this time.”
Dorsey said building a new jail could cost roughly $40 million. To put that into perspective, Wilson said Chester County has a total annual budget of $25 million.
“We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to make sure that we spend our money appropriately,” said Dorsey. “To build a new jail would be a huge ticket for this county, and I don’t believe we’re in a position to be able to do that right now. So we have to explore all options on repairing this facility first.”
Dorsey said the issues at the jail are taxing on detention officers, who are already under a lot of pressure.
“They’re in here with dangerous, accused felons – some of the most dangerous people in our state are housed here right now,” he said. “On top of their safety and security, they’re having to deal with these other maintenance issues.”
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