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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Sanpete County Jail in Manti looks like it belongs on an old TV cop show.
"It's an old-fashioned jail. I think we're the last Mayberry in the state as far as I know," Sheriff's Lt. Robert Braithwaite said.
Sanpete County officials are pushing for a new, $12 million, 128-bed facility to replace the 44-bed building they have now.
"Sometimes, we've had to lay guys on the floor on cots," County Commissioner Bruce Blackham said.
Braithwaite said that last summer, the jail sometimes held nearly 40 inmates at a time on things like alcohol violations, domestic violence and drugs.
"It's pretty outdated," he said. "It's really small for what we need."
The laundry room consists of a single washer and dryer. The kitchen can serve up to 20 trays, meals are served in shifts.
"It's right in the middle of our town, right in the middle of a residential area," said County Commissioner Claudia Jarrett. "We want to get it up to code, make sure it's safe."
Women inmates are housed the Juab County Jail in Nephi.
"We're trying to keep up with the times," Braithwaite said. "We don't have any way of segregating males or females. You have to have female officers. We've got one hired now."
The new jail would be able to house more local inmates long term, and could house about 50 state inmates. The sheriff's office said it would hire as many as 30 new deputies to work in the new jail.
The county is working to come up with the money to pay for the new jail.
The Utah Permanent Community Impact Board Fund approved a $6 million loan in early April. County commissioners are applying for another low interest rural development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Now, county leaders are planning for a general obligation bond election in June, asking voters to support a $4 million bond to help pay for the jail.
Officials figure the revenue from housing the 50 state inmates would pay back the bond.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
