Demolition underway at Lyon County's old public safety complex in Yerington
Demolition began Monday in Yerington at Lyon County's former public safety complex, which was built in 1976 and moved to a new complex in 2013, said County Manager Jeff Page.
In 1976, Lyon County and the City of Yerington moved into and occupied the Public Safety Complex in Yerington. The facility originally was built as a 20 bed jail and a 4 bed juvenile detention facility and housed the Sheriff's Office, Police Department, 9-1-1 Dispatch and Mason Justice Court, according to Page.
By 1980 the jail was double bunked taking capacity to 40 beds. In 1988 juveniles were no longer allowed to be housed near adult prisoners and then in 1990 Lyon County built additional cell blocks taking the bed count to 56 inmates. Around the same time the 9-1-1 dispatch center was moved across the parking lot to the facility it is currently located, said Page.
More changes came in 2013 when the jail, sheriff's administration, Third Judicial District Court and Walker River Justice Court moved into the new Justice Complex right behind the public safety complex.
On Monday demolition of the old Public Safety Complex began. The Yerington Police Department is currently sharing office space with the Sheriff's Office until the remodeling of the Information Center is done.
The demolition will enhance parking for the library, Human Services and Justice complex and provide the Sheriff's Office with better access to their facilities and evidence storage.