MEDICAL LAKE, WA. -- Spokane County's Sheriff and comissioners said Wednesday that the Pine Lodge Womens' Correctional Facility in Medical Lake is not a viable option for the new Spokane County Jail, and should remain open.
KREM 2 News went exclusively along with Sheriff Knezovich and Spokane County Commissioners as they toured the facility.
"We would have to totally redesign most of these rooms," said Sheriff Knezovich on the tour.
Pine Lodge currently holds 149 people and it is a minimum security facility. It has the capability of holding 430 prisoners, but part of the facility closed last year due to budget cuts. About 220 beds are currently not in use.
Knezovich told KREM 2 News Wednesday the Pine Lodge campus is too spread out, and it would take too much man-power and money to take over the facility.
Knezovich also remarked that the structure of the building, specifically the walls, are too flimsy for a medium security prison like the Spokane County Jail.
"We have a difficult enough time keeping things from being destroyed when you have concrete," said Sheriff Knezovich. "Can you imagine plaster?"
County Commissioners agreed with Knezovich. They said it's a disappointing conclusion, because Pine Lodge could have helped save Spokane County $40 million in building costs, if it weren't for the upgrades.
"It would end up costing the citizens more money than it would be worth," said Sheriff Knezovich.
Commissioners and Knezovich plan to support asking Washington lawmakers to keep Pine Lodge open, instead of closing it for budget cuts.
