Project to begin renovating former CJ Jail needs volunteers Thursday, Sept. 6
Citizens group working with sheriff to relocate Illinois Valley Substation to Cave Junction City Hall basement with temporary holding facility
Mayor Tony Paulson shows pipes in cell that must be covered. Uniforms from former city police force gather dust. (I.V. News photo)
Volunteers for a refurbishing project at the former Cave Junction city jail -- part of a focus on taking back the town -- will not collect $200, but after their efforts they’ll be let out free.
The project to fix up the basement at CJ City Hall as a “temporary holding facility” will be held Thursday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon, said Roger Brandt, titular head of the project with Don Moore.
The project also involves relocating the Illinois Valley Substation of Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) from the county building in CJ to the basement of city hall.
Committee members tour the former jail (I.V. News photo)
Brandt and Moore led a meeting of concerned citizens Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 28 at the Illinois Valley Family Resource Center. Other such gatherings have been held, including at least one with JCSO Sheriff Gil Gilbertson. Ironically, he was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting because of having to be on duty as the lone officer available that day, said Moore.
Mayor Tony Paulson addressed the group during the 90-minute meeting, attended by approximately 14 persons. Following the assembly, most of those attending gathered at Paulson’s invitation for an impromptu tour of the former city jail.
Uniforms from the former city force, which was funded under the federal Comprehensive Employment & Training Act (CETA), still hang in the basement. CETA ran from 1973 to 1982.
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Since then, law enforcement has been handled in city limits by JCSO, including several years of contract work with the city. However, the city ended the pact some months ago.
The overall intent of the grass-roots group is to establish a definite law enforcement presence in and around the city of Cave Junction. As such, there is a need for volunteers to work at the forthcoming “temporary holding facility.”
Training, said Brandt, will be provided by Sue Fasching, retired from the San Diego Police Dept. Her husband, also retired from SDPD, currently serves as undersheriff to Gilbertson.
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To refurbish the former jail, and provide a police presence, help is coming from a number of I.V. businesses, Moore said, including his. He is a building contractor, and will donate paint, among other items.
As well, semiretired electrician Paul Simon, plus Jerry Work at Dovetail Joint, Dennis Parker at Precision Glass, and Vic Cusumano Welding have offered help. Other assistance will be welcome, Moore and Brandt said.
Paulson outlined various requirements that must be met for the site to quality as a holding facility. He had met earlier with Lt. Robin Ward, commander of the county jail, for advice. Among changes will be removal of several large juniper plants in front of the basement entrance area.
Painting, installation of window bars, special door locks, and a number of other aspects will be handled by the grass-roots group.
Meeting attendees Tuesday received a recap on how the facility will be used, hopefully in conjunction with two patrol deputies. Although they might not be on duty simultaneously they could overlap shifts for increased coverage.
Additionally, with volunteers able to monitor prisoners held temporarily at the holding facility, deputies would be freed from spending two to three hours out of the valley. That’s the time it takes to transport and book a prisoner in Grants Pass.
Other volunteers, trained by Sue Fasching, could handle investigations of burglaries and the like that are “cold,” having already occurred and not requiring emergency response. Volunteers could take photographs and dust for fingerprints at crime scenes. Additionally, they could fingerprint persons brought to the pending holding facility.
There also is hope that patrol cars could be used at times by trained volunteers to serve as eyes and ears in the fight against crime.
Brandt also noted that it might be possible to use members of a Law Enforcement Post, sponsored by county Search And Rescue, at the site. Participant Dennis Strayer also pointed out the possibility of using criminal justice students from Rogue Community College in a work experience program.
He further noted that I.V. High School is under an expeditionary learning program, and that perhaps some students could become part of the volunteer crew at the holding facility.
The issue of safety in connection with all volunteers was stressed. Sworn deputies will handle all duties that could possibly place volunteers in jeopardy, it was indicated.
Brandt and Moore complimented city staff and Paulson for their cooperation with the project. They also expressed appreciation to county Commissioner Dave Toler and Gilbertson for their helpful actions because of concerns about the valley community.
After getting the temporary holding facility up and running, there will be time to examine the possibility of a law enforcement district, said the mayor and Moore, who serves on the county planning commission.
Paulson said that a proposal during 2002 showed it would cost $2.25 per $1,000 assessed valuation for nine officers. “But the citizens didn’t want to pay,” he said, “as there’s a lot of entitlement feelings out there.”
“We can make this a better community,” commented Brandt, “by stepping up to the plate to increase a law enforcement presence.”
Moore added that the county will not provide any funding for the project, so donations will be welcome.
