Moves made to include detention center in improvement plan

KINGSTREE— Strides were made in efforts to include plans for the county detention center with the upcoming capital improvement project for Williamsburg County government facilities last week.

Williamsburg County Sheriff Kelvin Washington appeared before the building committee last week to discuss the incorporation of the sheriff’s office and the county detention center into the upcoming capital improvement plans already proposed by the county commissioner, Stanley S. Pasley.

Washington, along with his chief deputy Michael Johnson, presented the committee with a preliminary feasibility study that featured plans for a new facility that would house the sheriff’s offices as well as spaces for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and 911.

Plans for a new detention center were also presented.

The study included a total of four possible scenarios in which new or renovated facilities could be included into the improvement plan with minimal cost to the county. Washington said based on estimates received by the architect hired to compile the study, cost of the new faculties would total over $8 million.

Plans were also presented regarding a new detention center, which, as the meeting went on, drew much of the committee’s attention.

The sheriff’s audience with the building committee was the latest in what has been a series of events involving Washington’s office and that of supervisor Pasley. In mid August, Pasley presented the finance committee with a detailed proposal for a “Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan” for Williamsburg County government faculties. The plan included a tentative timeline for renovations, demolitions and reconstructions of several county facilities, including the historic courthouse, department of social services, public administration building and EOC and 911 center.

The plan detailed funding sources and total figures for the improvements, which totaled over $14 million, acquired through various grants, appropriations, stimulus monies and other funding means.

The plans did not address accommodations for the sheriff nor the detention center, which continually has received subpar evaluations on annual assessments from the South Carolina Department of Corrections due to the age and general dilapidation of the facility.

On Sept. 15, Washington appeared before the county council to ask why no plans had been made for his department. Pasley claimed his office had been in contact with the sheriff’s on a number of occasions and that the proper documents were not returned in time to be included in the capital improvement plan presented in August. Washington said documents and forms had been filled out, but that the commissioner’s office continually found problems and demanded more data.

A letter from Liz Nelson, the budget director for the county in Pasley’s office, was sent out in early October documenting several instances where she claims contact was made with Washington and his office dating as far back as January of 2007.

Washington insisted at the council meeting that he had supplied the information asked of him.

Plans were made to pursue incorporation of a detention center into the upcoming project.