HOLTVILLE — A new privately owned detention facility may be coming to the area near the East Port of Entry.
The Holtville City Council voted 5-0 to approve two agreements Monday night related to a proposed new detention facility located on Highway 98 near the East Port of Entry. The facility would include about 1,000 beds in a site taking up about 64 acres.
The detention facility would be a short-term holding facility, and the agency that would utilize it has not yet been decided, said Michael Harling, executive vice president of the Municipal Capital Markets Group. There are still some “i”s to dot, but the basic plan is in place, he added when speaking before the council. The project would bring between 200 and 250 new jobs including construction and permanent positions.
The city of Holtville was given the opportunity to enter into a lease and derive revenues from the project. Specific details of the lease and revenue from the project remain under negotiation. However, council documents indicate that a per diem revenue from the project is set to range from $1 to $2 per day per detainee. The exact per diem rate is dependent upon negotiations between the facility and the county Assessor’s Office.
Last year the county indicated that a detention center is a permitted use of the Gateway of the Americas Specific Plan Area. It approved an administrative design review application for the Management and Training Corp. Imperial Detention Center.
The project has been in development for a little more than two years, said Tom DuBose with Development Design & Engineering and the chairman of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. It started as a lead from the development corporation, before moving through a couple of companies and finally going before the county and city of Holtville.
City staff, including the mayor, city manager, city attorney and finance manager, visited a similar facility in another county, and City Manager Alex Meyerhoff said, “We find this a very interesting project.”
Mayor Mike Goodsell added that, “We’re all pleased to see a new project move forward.”
The city entered into a lease agreement and operation, management and maintenance service agreement with the Brawley Community Foundation, a public benefit corporation. The Municipal and Training Corp. has indicated that it is willing to operate a detention facility at 1499 Highway 98.
In order to do the type of financing that is set to be done with the project, the Management and Training Corp. needs to work with both a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization and municipality, said Timothy Kelley, president and chief executive officer of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. and treasurer of the Brawley Community Foundation. The Management and Training Corp. didn’t need to work with a local nonprofit, but it chose to work with the Brawley Community Foundation to benefit the local community as much as it can.
“We think it’s going to be a win-win-win-win situation,” Kelley said.
Digital Media News Editor Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
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