Push for a new LeFlore County jail begins

(Poteau-AP) -- A group in Le Flore County is planning a petition to get a jail tax election on the ballot. <br><br>The move would bypass the Le Flore County commissioners and send the plan straight to

Friday, April 11th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Poteau-AP) -- A group in Le Flore County is planning a petition to get a jail tax election on the ballot.

The move would bypass the Le Flore County commissioners and send the plan straight to voters.

Commissioners are at an impasse over building a new jail.

The group planning the petition endorses a jail proposal by County Commissioner Lance Smith.

That proposal calls for building a new jail downtown to replace the old lockup. But it was voted down last month by the other two commissioners.

Smith's plan won support from an economic development group that has taken up the issue.

The coalition is passing out an initiative petition to put Smith's jail plan on the ballot and plans to meet Saturday on how the petition will be circulated.