By Ellie Mulder
The Gazette
COLORADO SPRINGS — It could cost more than $1 million to repair rain damage and renovate the El Paso County jail kitchen, said county spokesman Dave Rose.
When the damaged kitchen ceiling collapsed May 24, the jail’s management had to figure out how to feed between 1,400 and 1,500 inmates without a facility. Just a few weeks later, the torn-up kitchen is filled with construction equipment manned by inmates, and food for inmates is prepared in temporary outdoor structures.
The rain caused a leak that damaged an 8 foot by 16 foot area of the kitchen ceiling. But while doing repairs, jail officials decided it was time for other renovations, said Jim Reid, executive director of public services for the county. As a result, the jail is renovating the kitchen floor, which was getting old, and ensuring that all equipment is functional and clean.
“Actually, the timing worked very well,” Reid said.
The county and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will share the cost of the project, although it is likely that both insurance and FEMA money will lessen the burden, according to Sheriff’s Office administrator Larry Borland. The Sheriff’s Office has committed to pay for the mobile kitchen as well as the floor repair, which was budgeted for using federal funds. The county will cover inside damage and the roof repair.
El Paso County Public Health visited the kitchen May 29 and recommended that the jail remove mold and sources of moisture, as well as ensuring adequate ventilation flow, said Danielle Oller, the organization’s spokeswoman.
It took staff 48 trips through security-lined doors to move supplies and equipment to the temporary structures, said Wendy Habert, the jail’s director of compliance. Despite the difficulties, the jail served its first meal out of the temporary kitchen June 1, less than a week after the ceiling collapsed.
Continued rain, however, hasn’t made the situation easier - and those in charge at the jail expect to use the temporary kitchen for at least another two months.
“It’s been raining every afternoon, which just complicates an already complicated situation, when these guys are running around, trying to do all of this and then an afternoon thunderstorm comes and there’s two inches of rain,” said Mitch Lincoln, chief of the Detention Bureau.
Through extensive planning, the kitchen repairs have only slightly altered the jail’s daily schedule, said Rob King, detention security division commander.
The facility would previously receive supply shipments once a week, but with limited storage space, staff must request smaller shipments two to three times per week. The jail also now serves two cold meals and one hot meal per day, instead of its previous schedule of two hot meals and one cold meal. Security has been a priority in the outdoor kitchen, in part because of the increased number of inmates and staff members entering and exiting the building.
Habert said the facility has a secured fence that has helped ensure safety.
As the several month project is completed, inmates’ work will be invaluable to its success and budget, according to jail management - and the inmates don’t mind.
“I was concerned that we would have a lot of inmates who wouldn’t want to work out here, and the exact opposite has been true,” King said.
Lincoln said the inmates have enjoyed working outside, adding that “one of them saw a rabbit out here the other day, and he was just thrilled to death.”
The mobile kitchen costs $85,000 for the first month and $65,000 for each subsequent month.
“Who do you call when you need to feed 1,500?” was the first question jail management asked after the ceiling collapsed, King said.
“There’s a lot of people out there that can provide temp kitchens, but very few providers can provide the size and quality of equipment that we’ve got here that can allow you to feed 1,500 three times a day,” he said.