County won't take a bath on showers

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County Jail inmates used to enjoying long showers are in for a surprise.

County commissioners on Monday gave building staff permission to proceed with a plan that reduces both the timeframe inmates can take showers and how long water will pour out.

Currently, about 200 inmates in the low-security portion of the jail have unlimited access to showers until the 10 p.m. "lights out" time.

"Some of the inmates have been taking up to five showers a day," Building and Grounds director Shawn Riley said.

To put limits on the soaking time, showers will soon only available from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Equipment allowing each shower to run a maximum of 5 minutes will be installed.

"Inmates will be allowed to have as much as two 5-minute showers before it is automatically shut off for 10 minutes," Riley said.

The county spent $263,765 on water and natural gas to fire the boilers for hot water at the jail the past fiscal year, Riley said. He said — erring on the conservative side — the controls are estimated to save the county $80,000 a year.

Riley said the equipment will cost $18,000 for the low-security area of the jail, which will be the priority to start. Water controls for the entire jail are expected to cost $35,000.

Maintenance supervisor Tom Reed developed the plan, which was unanimously supported by the board.

Commissioner Marc Eberlein said he believes the investment is a wise choice in the name of saving taxpayer dollars.

"The natives (inmates) are going to be restless, I'm sure, but going to jail is not the Ritz," he said. "We hear a lot that they get three hots and a cot."

Riley said the plan complies with Idaho jail housing standards. His department coordinated the plan with county legal staff and the sheriff's office.

"It denies inmates unlimited access to showers," Undersheriff Dan Mattos said. "We believe this is a move in the right direction."

Riley said the plan does not apply to the jail booking procedure or those with medical needs. It does not include cutting off water to sinks.

Riley said this shower technology has only been around for about five years and California has used it to combat its drought.

"It was born out of a need," he said.

Riley said the plan should translate into other savings if there's less laundry, and it will mean less wear and tear on the boilers.