Caledonia Argus

New jail facility likely in county's future

Posted: 4/30/02

by Jane Palen
Managing Editor

Itís likely that Houston County will be getting a new jail someday, but that day is at least a few years down the road.

A contingent from Houston County, including commissioners Ann Thompson and Larry Graf, Sheriff Mike Lee, jail administrator Mark Schiltz, and citizens Earl Welch and Russ Krech recently returned from the National Institute of Corrections in Longmont, Colorado, where they attended a program on the development of new institutions. The trip was funded primarily by the National Institute of Corrections. The group met with county commissioners at the regular meeting of the county board on April 23.

At the meeting, Mark Schiltz pointed out to commissioners that the jail study has been underway in the county since 1996. At that time, it was the opinion of the committee that the county would need to do something in 10 years. In the six years since the study was undertaken, the county has looked at a number of possibilities, including sharing facilities with Winona or Fillmore County. Although the counties are not likely to share entire facilities, the possibility of some type of sharing still exists, noted Commissioner Thompson.

The current Houston County Jail is 127 years old, the oldest in the state. It cannot accept female prisoners or juveniles. Despite its age, it has received high marks on all inspection reports.

Russ Krech, retired county agent who attended the NIC program, told the board that it is necessary to ìimprove and increase community support for the criminal justice system.î

ìThere are alternatives,î Krech said. ìWe are paying for a jail, we just donít know it.î

What Krech is referring to is the high cost of providing a deputy to be a ìtaxi driver.î The figure he gave was $200,000 per year, which includes wages, gas, food and lodging for transporting prisoners to other facilities. He gave the example of a female Huber prisoner (Huber prisoners are allowed to leave jail to work). Under the current system, a female prisoner from Houston County must be held in another facility. The county is required to pick that prisoner up from jail and bring her to work. At the end of the work day, she is picked up and transported back to jail.

It was also noted by Commissioner Kevin Kelleher that the legislature may move to a .08 blood alcohol level for drunk driving convictions would probably increase the jail population as well.

Commissioner Ann Thompson said that ìWe have to move on this at an accelerated pace, even though it will take a long time.î

Sheriff Mike Lee predicted that it would be at least four years before ground could be broken for a facility due to the additional research needed to determine what would best serve the needs of the county.

Fluorescent bulb collection a success

In other news from the county, recycling coordinator Nick Nichols reported that the number of fluorescent bulbs collected this year was 7,155, up 2,500 over last year.

The RSVP program provides volunteers for the collection, Nichols reported.

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