After huddling Wednesday with Curtis, County Council members said they will consider selling the dormant detention facility in South Salt Lake to the state.

"I really like the potential that is there," Republican Councilman Jeff Allen said. "Now we have to see if the dollars match up."

But handing over the keys, officials say, will depend on the purchase price and the state's commitment to transfer up to 300 inmates from the nearby Adult Detention Center.

Curtis has suggested buying Oxbow and using it to detain undocumented immigrants who commit crimes.

But the powerful Sandy Republican didn't speak of undocumented immigrants Wednesday. Instead, he and three county councilmen - Republicans Michael Jensen, Mark Crockett and Allen - kept their conversation to Oxbow's fair-market value and the potential of moving prisoners out of the county-owned Adult Detention Center.

Curtis hinted at future talks that could include Democratic Sheriff Jim Winder, who has spoken out against the sale.

"Before we get to the nitty-gritty of talking price and terms," Curtis said, "we need to know if there's a coalition of the willing down there."

The council has expressed bipartisan interest in unloading the facility. "If done correctly," Democratic Councilman Randy Horiuchi said, "we might be able to get this thing to fruition."

What could cause some consternation among council members is Curtis' plans for detaining undocumented immigrants. The idea doesn't settle well for some - such as Crockett - who described it as a "misguided approach."

"To the extent this becomes a place to lock up illegal immigrants," Crockett said, "they lose my vote."

jstettler@sltrib.com

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* ROBERT GEHRKE contributed to this story.