Repair Bill Rises For Flood Damage At Jail

The cost continues to rise for repairing flood damage at the Spokane County Jail.

County commissioners were told Tuesday that the latest estimate is $350,000, up from an initial forecast of $250,000, made before work began. The money will come from the county’s self-funded insurance pool.

Although the bills are not all in, the final tab should be close to $350,000, said Claude Cox, the county’s risk manager. Repairing ceiling damage has been more expensive than anticipated, he said.

The damage occurred June 14, when an inmate plugged the toilet in his cell, then flushed it repeatedly.

That common jailhouse prank rarely does much damage. In this case, however, the water flooded five floors, setting off automatic sprinklers and destroying computers.

Nathaniel J. Brown, who was jailed March 18 for two counts of third-degree theft, has been charged with malicious mischief for allegedly creating the flood.

County commissioners in July ordered that the bill for flood repairs be sent to Brown if he is convicted. , DataTimes