COUNCIL- SQUABBLES See Editorial Page L~iIIIIE ti TEMPTING High-23 Low-7° See Today for details Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 125 Ann Arbor, Michigan-Wednesday, March 1, 1978 Ten Cents 10 Pages Too manyp By MIMI GINOTT Washtenaw County's new $10 million, award-winning jail may be too small to accommodate the rising number of prisoners, according to county officials. What's more, they say, the old jail on E. Ann may have to be retained to handle the overflow. Sheriff Thomas Minick says the present population in the old jail is 141, but it has reached a consistent high of 210 in recent months. Since the new jail was designed to house only 208 prisoners, Minick is preparing a "feasibility study" to determine whether the old jail should be kept open. MINICK SAYS he expects to begin transferring prisoners to the new jail in the beginning of April. Its opening has already been stalled for 11 months because of contractual problems. Minick says the County Board of Commissioners recom- mends razing the old jail and constructing a parking lot in its place, because the cost of renovation is too high. But, he says, "it's premature to tear it down now."' Prisoners po Another alternative, according to the sheriff, would be to add an extra wing to the new jail. However, he says, that op- tion would depend upon the permanent jail population. THE GROWING number of inmates has forced the county to sometimes house up to 90 prisoners in other jails, at a cost of $12 to $18 per day. That number now stands at 32 prisoners. Jail Administrator Michael Montgomery attributes the increase in prisoners to "a nationwide trend back to the law enforcement philosophy-back to locking them up." Minick offers a more detailed explanation. He claims judges are not only "putting higher bonds on offenders," but are also 'expediting arraignments to take care of -the backlog." HE ADDS THAT the "career criminal program"-which guarantees punishment in the case of a previous police record-has incarcerated 46 people. Moreover, the average length of stay, according to Minick, has been extended by eight days in the past year. But these conditions are temporary, he says. se problems. THE OLD JAIL, however, is still overcrowded, Mont- gomery says it is supposed to accommodate 134 prisoners, seven less than its present population. County Commissioners Willis Israel and Kathleen Fojtik say they were opposed to plans for the new jail because they thought it would be too small and too expensive. COUNTY BUDGET Analyst Michael Stimpson says the; budget for the new jail is just under $1.7 million-$300,000 more than last year's jail budget. But Montgomery main- tains that over 90 per cent of the budget will be spent on per- sonnel. According to Minick, the new jail will require a minimum of 23 additional guards. Though Israel says he now considers the new jail a wor- thwhile investment because of features such as single cells, he says the county might have to undertake "diversion projects" to handle the increased jail population. or County MINICK SAYS these projects include "pre-trial release," which presents the danger of the defendant committing another crime before the trial, and "work release," which allows the prisoner to serve his jail term on weekends. The work release program is not "cost effective," says Minick, because cells must be retained for the prisoners during the week, even though they are living at home. Weekends in jail serve no purpose, he declares. Critics of the new jail look beyond its size. Many observers consider the extra facilities-among them a nursery for visiting children, numerous living rooms, and women's vacuums and washing machine-to be costly and un- necessary. The centrally computerized lock-up system also has been questioned. Israel says its purchase was based upon the belief that "newer and bigger is better." Board of. Corm missioners Chairperson Vleri Lou Murray says the jail cant not open until the system is properly installed. Park begins his Koreagate testimony Session has, no 0 surprises, Reps say WASHINGTON (AP)-Tongsun Park, saying he hopes to clear the air and let "the Congress of this country get back to its normal life," began giving secret testimony yesterday on his alleged ef- forts to buy favors from U.S. lawmakers. "For the sake of both countries in- volved and for my own personal sake I hope the whole thing (investigation) would be terminated as soon as possible," Park told reporters moments before he went behind closed doors to appear before the House ethics com- mittee. LED BY Leon Jaworski, a former Watergate prosecutor, House in- vestigators interrogated Park on allegations that he lavished gifts and substantial campaign contributions on selected members of Congress to win favorable treatment of legislation af- fecting the Seoul government. Park, a wealthy rice dealer and one- time Washington socialite, was under heavy guard as he arrived on Capitol Hill. The committee is trying to deter- mine whether congressmen who received Park's gifts should be punished for wrongdoing. The alleged influence buying scheme has put a heavy strain on U.S.-South See PARK, Page 10 W n e S e eDaily Photos by ALAN BILINSKY WInter SC e n es We know... we know. Wfinter in Ann Arbor is cold and wet and cruddy and slushy. Just plain lousy. But next time you're strolling, take a minute. Stop. Look around. You might catch the same things our photographer snapped. Winter's not too bad after all, you know. L RETIRES AFTER 18 YEARS: Sen. Bursley calls it a career r By DENNIS SABO i It has been re- warding and fun ..but I think it is time to look Ann Arbor state Senator Gilbert Bur- sley announced yesterday he would not seek re-election this year, leaving his seat wide open for the first time in 14 years. Bursley, 65, described as a progressive Republican by legislators on both sides of the political fence, said he would like to remain a public ser- vant. He mentioned the possibility of seeking a University Regent seat or serving in the still-pending state consti- tutional convention later this year. BURSLEY WAS first elected to the State House in 1960 and has served in the State Senate since 1964. He says he's proud of his legislative record - more than 50 of his bills are now law. The after other in- terests.' -Gilbert Bursley variety of his legislation ranges from public school instruction in birth con- trol to increased state education ap- propriations. "I've been in for 18 years and I've ac- complished a lot," he said. "It has been a rewarding and fun 18 years, but I think it is time to look after other in- terests." Earlier this year, Bursley's bill to provide relief to taxpayers in college towns like Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti was signed into law. BURSLEY SAID he would like to see more changes in state government, but added the changes would be con- stitutional rather than legislative - a factor which, he said, prompted his decision not to seek re-election. With the announcement of Bursley's retirement, the names of several local politicians have been tossed into the arena as possible senatorial can- didates. Most prominent are Rep. Perry Bullard and Ypsilanti Mayor See BURSLEY, Page 7 Wednesday REGISTER TO VOTE ! * President Fleming has a sea t on two corporate boards. Does that constitute a conflict I nf intarP.ac callppdba City Council toils over Wilbur Cohen Daily Photo by ALAN BILINSK human By KEITH RICHBURG - In January City Council passed on first reading the most com- prehensive anti-discrimination proposal ever attempted. Several problems with the bill promised rights ordinance bing through the ordinance for merely specifying the intent of every potential flaw, and in the the ordinance while ignoring the course of the debate - which at "findings" which led to its incep- one point turned into a shouting tion. match - several key clauses Another catch-clause dealt stood out as problem spots. with discrimination based on age, Mostohiections centered on the and Council was hard-Dressed to From Az to D.C. : Dean Cohen 's legacy' By SHELLEY WOLSON Education, has been. just about everywhere in the spheres of gover- nment and education. When he retires Few college types anywhere can say thpv hvn wnrked fnr a11 the T S