Plans for a new county jail stepped on firmer ground Tuesday, as supervisors authorized the purchase of land on Locomotive Lane near Sutter Creek.

The lot where a new jail will stand - once construction money considerations are met - is near the current site of the county Health and Human Services building on Conductor Boulevard.

The $2 million purchase of 8.2 acres from Sierra Pacific Industries is considered prudent, despite the fact Amador currently can't accept a $22 million state grant to build a new jail structure, according to Sheriff Martin Ryan. The county currently lacks the approximately $12 million in matching funds it would require to accept state aid.

Ryan noted the county hasn't yet officially turned down the grant, however, and said he believed it would be wise to hold off on submitting an official turn-down letter. Circumstances statewide are shifting around the kind of jail-construction money Amador wants, said general services director Jon Hopkins.

"Since the vote rejecting the AB 900 grant money, things have changed," Hopkins said of the funds offered through the state's prison reform bill. "Enough counties have dropped out, so a surplus of money exists."

Officials hope that fact could ease match requirements for Amador. Supervisors voted to hold off on officially declining the grant, which it failed to do only because of a clerical error, in which the letter supervisors authorized to turn down the money never was sent.

"The land purchase sets us miles ahead," Ryan said of Tuesday's decision. "Even if we don't take the AB 900 money, we'll have property for this purpose in the future."

District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster sought clarification that staying in the grant picture posed no financial risk for Amador County. "I want to be sure this does not obligate us (to a match)," he said.

The issue of wastewater treatment, and possibly higher rates for it in the future, was brought up in the context of a new jail by District 1 Supervisor John Plasse and Forster. Plasse wanted to know if the county could lock in a "will-serve" promise from Amador Water Agency at any time - in case treatment capacity should be outstripped by a jump in water customers in the future. Officials concluded tentatively that "will-serve" promises can be extended over time.

"If it takes five to 10 years to build this, I'm worried that AWA will raise rates," Forster said.

Hopkins emphasized that the $2 million is a strictly earmarked amount not available during the current economic crunch for any general spending purposes, such as, for example, employee salaries. The county recently laid off nearly 20 employees.