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November 25, 2007

Barbed wire snags concern

By John Walker

DUNCAN — When a 10-foot-high fence topped with barbed wire coils was installed recently for added security at the Stephens County Jail, nearby residents voiced their displeasure, claiming the fence could downgrade their property values.

“I called my Realtor and she said that it will definitely affect my property value,” said Tony Hughes, who lives near the jail. “I bought my house two years ago and the street has gone from a relatively quiet one to one of the noisiest streets in Duncan. Hopefully, I can sell it eventually with enough profit to buy something else.”

Sheriff Jimmie Bruner said the fence is a step in the right direction even though some people may complain about the loss of value on their property.

“There was someone who called who complained about his property value going down because of the fence, but he should’ve thought about that before moving next to a jail,” she said.

“Besides, we’ve needed to do this for some time now for the added security. This has been in the planning stages for a few months already.”

The problem, Bruner said, comes after dark. She said people on the outside of the jail have been digging holes in the rubber-like material that joins the pre-cast walls together and passing items back and forth with the inmates.

“They got a few items through, like an Ipod and even a cell phone,” said Bruner. “They were trying to get a gun inside when we found out and put a metal slate down the joint.”

The new barrier should take care of the problem, she said.

“That fence will prevent people from getting close enough to mess with the walls.”

According to Gary Ball, building maintenance supervisor for the courthouse, it was the expansion joints between the pre-cast exterior walls of the jail at the north and west corners that were being torn out.

“I think they should’ve thought through this better,” said Hughes about the county jail security and his concern over the impact of the fence on his property.

“First they put up lights, then cameras, then have security guards walking around with guns at night and they still have people digging holes in their walls and passing stuff through?

“I have nothing against Sheriff Jimmie Bruner. I know who she is. I just think we (homeowners around the jail) should’ve been given the chance to voice our opinions and concerns about the project beforehand, but they just went ahead and did it with a ‘who cares?’ attitude.

“I’m probably not the only one with a concern about the loss of property value. I feel this should’ve been thought through better,” he said.

The north, south and west sides of the jail were not the only places to get a fence enclosure. On the north side of the courthouse, as one heads west, there is now a fence that blocks anyone from proceeding behind the courthouse onto the back patio.

“We had a few skateboarders in that back area,” said County Commissioner Dee Bowen. “One even purportedly got onto the roof of the jail. So we closed it off to public access.”

“I hate to see a fence up, but we needed to do it,” said Ball. “Besides, we aren’t the only county that has put a security fence around their jail. The contractor that did ours had just recently finished putting up a fence around the Carter and Marshall county jails.”

The fence cost more than $9,000 and was put up by D&D; Fence of Ardmore.

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