The current Carroll County Jail facility is in need of an overhaul and some community members believe the best way to manage the task is to start over in a new building.

Design consultants PMSIinc. of Indianapolis recently hosted the third facility planning meeting designed to guide county leaders and residents through the process of developing a facility master plan.

The first meeting held in April, was about American Correctional Association standards and a description of the current jail's inadequacies.

"We talked in the first meeting about long-term consequences for taking baby steps in this process," said PMSI representative Bill Shepler.

The second meeting held May 22 was about financial planning for any situational need the master plan dictates.

The most recent meeting was concerned with jail functions, space planning and special planning considerations, which included compliance with ACA standards, securing perimeters, evidence custody, inmate safety, video visitation, and providing an in-house courtroom.

County council member Steve Ashby requested the community be provided with documentation of ACA standards at the next meeting.

County deputy and sheriff's candidate Sgt. Tony Burns asked about ACA standards in relation to renovating the current structure versus building a new facility.

"If you don't make structural changes, the standards don't apply," Shepler said.

PMSI representatives will present their preliminary recommendations, based on information gathered from the sheriff's department, jail inspectors' reports and PMSI research about other facilities at the next meeting. The planning process is expected to be completed by mid-July to coincide with 2007 budget considerations by the county council.

The next meeting will be June 26 at 7 p.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the second floor of the courthouse. The public is urged to attend.