Hillsboro resident voices concern about county jail
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission will ask for another cost estimate for the county law enforcement/jail project.
The commission determined during Monday's meeting that a 40-bed unit will not generate sufficient revenue to cover operating expenses and enable the sheriff's department to be self-supporting.
More beds for out-of-county inmates continues to be the focus and with the reduction of eight maximum security cells, more minimum security beds could be created.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said he would contact the architect to make the changes.
In other business:
— The commission requested that Hillsboro resident Stan Thiessen come before the commission to address concerns about the jail project. The request spawned from a recent letter to the editor in an area newspaper.
Thiessen explained he was not necessarily opposed to a new jail but was concerned about the manner the commission was approaching the project.
He criticized the county for using tax dollars in this manner for economic development. Commissioner Dan Holub told Thiessen that the jail project had never been proposed as an economic development project.
Thiessen also faulted this and previous commissions for failure to address current silt issues at Marion Reservoir.
— A special work session will be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, prior to the commission's weekly meeting, to discuss the lake superintendent's job position.
— The commission approved a bid of $127,045 for a high loader and a lease-purchase agreement with Pilsen State Bank for the loan.
