Exclusive: Temporary KCMO jail will be built to last decades
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KCMO City Hall. Illustration: Axios Visuals
A $22 million modular jail initially presented as a temporary solution to the city's detention needs could be built to last 20-30 years, 1st District Councilmember Nathan Willett tells Axios.
The big picture: The expedited modular jail, which a city ordinance states is related to the perceived strain the World Cup will put on city resources, was positioned as a quick fix while the city worked on a more permanent facility.
- Funding was approved in a 12-1 vote last Thursday.
Flashback: "A modular jail would serve two purposes: It would give us much-needed beds for the World Cup, and it would get us by until the new permanent jail is built," 2nd District Councilmember Wes Rogers told Axios in July.
Yes, but: Willett says "it has nothing to do with the World Cup," adding that the city has been without its own jail for 16 years and detention resources are already strained.
What they're saying: "Any facility Kansas City builds will be constructed with quality and care to support a lifespan permitting at least several decades of use," Mayor Quinton Lucas' office confirmed in a statement. "None of our public safety plans conclude with this summer's games."
Between the lines: The city in November purchased land for a separate permanent municipal jail near the new Jackson County detention center — but construction on that facility likely wouldn't begin until 2027, FOX4 reports.
- "We're not necessarily married to that" plan, Willett said, adding that a modular facility could in the future add just as many beds for a lower price.
Catch up quick: Since 2019, Kansas City has been relying on county jails more than an hour away — a costly solution that council members acknowledge has created problems for the city and inmates.
Context: The vote to fund the modular jail came despite significant public testimony against the plan.
The other side: 6th District Councilmember Johnathan Duncan, who was the only no vote, told Axios the city should fund "rehabilitation and reintegration efforts" that address crime's root causes, adding that jails should be "public safety options of last resort."
What's next: Construction is set to begin by the end of the year and finish in May, KCUR reports. Kansas City's six World Cup matches will take place in June and July at Arrowhead Stadium.