New SFC Jail opens for public tours
County judge says construction bonds to be retired in three years
Calling it a historic day in St. Francis County, Judge Gary Hughes welcomed members of the community to the county’s new detention center as it was opened for public tours this morning.
Hughes also announced that the jail would be paid off in August 2025, which is much earlier than originally thought.
Hughes, SFC Sheriff Bobby May and Sterling Penix, coordinator for the Arkansas Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee, told those attending the open house that the facility’s completion is the culmination of a lot of work fueled by community support.
“In years to come, we’ll be able to look back and remember the day we opened this new facility for the benefit of our citizens,” said Hughes. “Thank you to the citizens of St. Francis County for making this possible.
“We started this over two years ago with the passage of a 7/8ths-cent sales tax for the construction and maintenance of this facility. We appreciate the citizens understanding the importance of having a detention center for our community,” said Hughes. “We don’t have to have one.
“As you know, we were on the brink of possibly not having a detention center because our other facility had failed all inspections and we were on the brink of having that facility closed,” said Hughes. “Mr. Penix, who is over state jail standards, provided us with a lot of patience in allowing us to keep the old facility open during the time we were constructing this new facility. He provided a lot of guidance and advising to us on what we needed to do. I can’t thank you enough for all the work you have done.
“Our citizens rose up and understood what we told them was true about the situation we were facing and overwhelmingly voted to pass this sales tax so we could build this facility,” Hughes continued. “We are grateful that now we have a facility that can safely and securely house over 140 inmates as needed.”
Hughes thanked Quorum Court justices for “leading the way and allowing the proposal to be placed on the ballot and for supporting it along the way.”
As for the center’s financing, Hughes said, “I want to officially announce that the total construction cost for this facility is right at $10 million. When we started this, we anticipated the costs were going to be $13.5 million, which is the amount of bonds we secured in case we needed it to build and construct the jail. We’re to the end now, and we know the cost is going to be right at $10 million, which will allow us to turn back in $3 million to pay on the principal. With the great interest rate we were able to get and the great timing on this project, we secured an interest rate well below 2 percent. So, everything you see here will be paid off, in full, in August 2025.
“I think that’s pretty amazing,” Hughes continued. “We started out thinking 10 years, then 12 years and we thought might happen in five. Now, in just three years, we’ll hopefully be able to burn the note. The good new is that you will no longer be paying 5/8ths of that tax when you purchase something in St. Francis County. That tax will sunset and no longer be. I couldn’t be more pleased that we’re able to pay off this facility in such a short period of time and relieve the taxpayers of the burden of that extra tax.”
Hughes and May expressed their appreciation for one another throughout the election and construction process.
“Judge Hughes organized 10 county-wide meetings for us to go throughout the county, explaining to you, the taxpayers, the importance of us having this jail. From the depths of my soul, I appreciate it,” said May.
“Everything you see here is secure from tip to toe,” said May. “On the tours, you’ll see what a great facility we have and how well it was designed. I did my very best to explain to people that it is no hotel, and you’ll see when you go in that it’s no hotel. It’s concrete and steel but up to the highest standards you can get. It’s probably the highest tech jail in the state. It took money out of your pockets to build this facility.”
May reflected on the county’s first attempt at getting a tax passed to build a new jail, which failed.
“I knew when I took office in 2007 that we had a jail problem and we did try to get a tax passed. It was probably a good thing, when you look back, that it did not pass because the interest rate was higher and it would have taken 20 years to pay it back. It was a lot bigger with things we probably didn’t need,” said May.
“I will never forget this day as long as I live,” continued May. “This, to me, helping get this county this jail, is the highlight of my career. I will always look at this jail and think, ‘I helped get that thing built.’”
May said residents should expect to see a reduction in crime once the new jail begins housing inmates, which he anticipates will be after July 15.
“What you’ll see in the future, because we have 144 beds, is you’ll see crime go down in this county and in this community,” said May. “We’ve only been able
(Continued from Page 1) to hold 40 inmates the last few months. I have had to OR (own recognizance) people out of jail who should be in that jail because we would have failed standards. It was so tough on me to have to do that. I don’t like doing that. I don’t like just letting folks out of jail. I like them being in jail where they truly belong and keep you safe. That’s my job, and now we have the ability to do that.”
“I’m very delighted to be here today to share words about what this means for your community and your future,” said Penix. “Today is a very positive step forward with respect to community development and infrastructure as it relates to public safety and criminal justice. A detention facility is a key component to public safety, public wellness and success in the justice system. So today is a huge victory for that cause and the community.
“For a community to thrive, typically you see three things – teamwork, programs and facilities,” said Penix. “Here, in St. Francis County, we’ve seen that for a long time.”
Penix also thanked the county’s jail staff and its leader Jonnie Jones.
“It’s clear to me as I travel St. Francis County that you’re a people with heart, imagination and vision and we see proof of that today,” said Penix. “Stay together as a team, stay together as a community, work through ideas, work through goals, do it* for yourself and do it for your community.”
Additional tours are planned at the facility on Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We want everybody, if possible, to have the opportunity to tour this facility,” said Hughes.