Amador County wants to build a new jail in Martell, but progress on the plan was halted at Wednesday's technical advisory committee meeting.

Last September, county supervisors voted unanimously to support development of a regional "reentry facility" in Stockton. There was no direct cost associated with that support, although there was an underlying purpose. Counties that agree to cooperate with the state's reentry program will be given preference in distribution of grant money for new county jails.

County officials from various departments, including the sheriff's office, have agreed on a location near the new health and human services building on Locomotive Lane in the Amador Central Business Park. The property is one of many parcels currently owned by Sierra Pacific Industries on the large tract of land formerly owned by Georgia Pacific. Long-time residents refer to this as "the mill."

The cost of a 160-bed facility is projected at approximately $18 million. The state grant, if obtained, would provide 75 percent of that cost, leaving the county responsible for the remaining $4.5 million.

No mention of cost was made at the Wednesday meeting and no value can be found on the assessor's tax rolls for the 13.36-acre property. The agenda for the meeting listed Item 1 as "Review of purchase agreement between the County of Amador and Sierra Pacific Industries for 8.2 acres."

Chairing the meeting was Environmental Health Director Mike Israel, who allowed county officials from the public works and planning departments to present their findings before introducing Sean Rabe, assistant city manager of Sutter Creek.

A brief exchange between Israel and Rabe led to the conclusion that the new jail facility would require sewage capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 gallons per day, variously estimated at 40 to 100 equivalent dwelling units. Rabe informed the committee that he had been instructed by the Sutter Creek City Council to draft a letter to the committee outlining the unavailability of capacity for that sewage at the city's wastewater treatment plant. Amador Water Agency plans to construct a regional wastewater treatment plant are not yet firm, so AWA was unable to offer an alternative solution in the foreseeable future.

Other considerations raised at the meeting were safety and the Amador Central Railroad. Rabe said that Sutter Creek has some concern about placement of a jail in such close proximity to the city. Undersheriff Jim Wegner responded that there have been no prison breaks in his 18 years at the department.

Amador County Historical Society President Charlene Buckley asked the committee for affirmation of the 25-foot distance from the center of the historic Amador Central Railroad track to the edge of the subject property. Investigation of the maps on hand showed a railroad easement 100 feet wide.

With assurance from Rabe that his letter will be delivered soon, a decision was made to postpone any recommendation of approval to the board of supervisors.