BY JOHN REED LEADER EDITOR
KNOX — As county officials mull major overcrowding problems at the aging Starke County Jail, there is good news: The county is likely to  receive $500,000 to deal with plumbing, mechanical and electrical issues.
That money is expected to come from Cong. Joe Donnelly’s “earmark” requests to Congress. All congressmen are asked to submit funding requests for their districts.
“Please note that submitting these requests does not guarantee that they will be funded and, if they are, that they will be funded at the amounts requested,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly requested that the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science  Appropriations bill include $500,000 for jail infrastructure. This funding would allow Starke County to expand and make necessary improvements to mechanical, plumbing, electrical and security upgrades to an overcrowded jail system.
“This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it ensures that Starke County is able to house its inmates and transport them securely,” the congressman said.
This money is not from the federal stimulus project. However, stimulus money has been requested.
Commissioner Kathy Norem obtained a report from a consultant, DLZ Indiana LLC, which listed estimated costs for jail upgrades. Those  figures were sent to Donnelly.
“The existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are more than 30 years old and have exceeded their useful life expectancy,” the report said.
Infrastructure improvements would total an estimated $746,265,  including $267,000 for mechanical, $267,000 for plumbing, $120,000  for electrical and security upgrades, and $187,000 for engineering, legal fees and other costs.
The $500,000 grant would not cover all the infrastructure needs, but  the balance could be funded by a grant the following year.
For years, local officials have complained that the jail, built in  1976, was overcrowded from the very beginning. Built to house 40  inmates, it regularly holds 65 to 70. State inspectors almost annually cite the facility for not having indoor recreation space, for cells having more bunks than allowed and other problems they say threaten inmate and jail staff health and security.
The lower level was built only for storage but now holds the the county prosecutor’s offices, Child Support Services and evidence storage.
Another project has been suggested, construction of an 8,000-square-foot addition to house more inmates and relieve overcrowding.
That project would cost $4,708,515. In past years, commissioners have discussed additions and even building a new jail, but always dropped such ideas, saying no funding existed.