Polk County Detention Facility Supports Security Effort While Broadening Revenues

Responding to the strategic needs of homeland security and the tightening of purse strings at home, Polk County officials partnered with a design, build, operate and finance team to open a state-of-the-art, $15.6 million detention facility in February of this year that has virtually filled to capacity in three short months.
The IAH Detention Facility was built to house up to 525 inmates for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), formerly known as the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Approximately 25 beds are also available for county use. In addition, the county is receiving a per diem per head based on occupancy and revenues from the telephones.
Like most local governments everywhere, Polk County found it tougher and tougher to fund essential services in the face of public resistance to higher taxes.
“With the state talking about appraisal and revenue caps, it becomes more difficult for us to plan the funding for any unmandated tasks,” said County Judge John P. Thompson. “We were looking at a myriad of ways to broaden revenues when this option walked in the door. Now it appears this facility is going to help us with that very soon.”
A Public Facility Corporation was formed (IAHPFC) with a view towards reviewing various funding alternatives for a beleaguered tax base in a community whose main economic endeavors include recreation (Lake Livingston), retirement opportunity and the timber industry. The PFC hoped to parlay the county’s proximity to George Bush airport with a likely endowing partner.
One member of the PFC, County Commissioner Tommy Overstreet, recalled feeling especially dubious about the project, a turn-key proposal that promised to provide more than 70 jobs while fulfilling stringent government jail requirements and adding possibly a half-million dollars annually to county coffers.
“The whole idea just sounded too good to be true,” Overstreet said. “But, to this day, the county has put forth no money and has assumed zero liability. When the team began to build the project, they used many local suppliers, laborers and contractors. I see it as nothing but a plus.”
The facility was designed to handle immigrants being returned to destinations “OTM” (other than Mexico), hence the quick airport trip down Highway 59 factored into the success.
County auditor B.L “Bob” Dockens said he is amazed “that the facility was completed without one change order.” An independent architectural firm selected by the county helped oversee the construction, which came in on time and on budget.
James Parkey of Corplan Corrections was the principle coordinator of the operation, said Dockens, also an IAHPFC member.
“He is the one who explained simply the role of the private investor and illustrated how the county might benefit financially,” Dockens said. “I promise you, there are many people in the county who still can’t believe the facility was built without any tax liability.”
The final team fielded by the county included Corplan, finance expert Municipal Capital Markets, builder Hale-Mills, and operator CiviGenics of Texas. They are huddling now to discuss the notion of expanding the facility.
“We have been studying possible expansion since day one,” Dockens said. “We have plenty of room within the existing perimeter roads and fencing. So subject to some immigration bills before Congress and the like, we are studying it seriously.”
Whenever they decide to go forward, Thompson said it will again be as a team.
“The county really acts as a conduit in this partnership,” he said. “The private bond holders are responsible for the financing. Our involvement (IAHPFC) assures the bonds can be tax exempt, and it looks now like the needs for beds here are only going to grow.”
Parkey agreed, citing current issues surrounding national security.
“We see the Polk County facility as fulfilling a strategic need,” he said, “especially with the Justice, Alien and Prisoner Transportation System (JAPTS) located in such a practical position