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The Houghton County Board of Commissioners heard an update on the search for a site for a potential new jail Tuesday night.
Commissioners Roy Britz and Gretchen Janssen have been researching the options, and said they have located several.
Some are inside the Houghton city limits. Some are outside the limits, but Portage Township has expressed willingness to work with the county and the city on potential annexation. State law requires that the jail and sheriff’s department be located within the limits of the county seat.
Commissioners continue to focus on sites of at least five acres, to allow for future expansion of the facility.
Location of a potential site is an early step in the process of developing a proposal to bring to voters to replace the current outdated and overcrowded jail.
Commissioners asked Britz and Janssen narrow down the choices by the next meeting, to start getting a feel for purchase and development costs.
Commissioners filled a number of open positions at their Tuesday meeting.
Eugene Londo was reappointed to the Planning Commission. He’ll continue to fill the Local Governmental Planning and Zoning seat. He’ll be joined by Dianne St. Amour, who will fill the Economic Development and Tourism seat.
James Tervo was named to the Department of Health and Human Services Board. Glenn Anderson and James Hainault will continue to serve on the Houghton County Land Bank Authority Board.
In other news, County Administrator Eric Forsberg told commissioners that the on-again, off-again federal funding for two new sheriff’s department patrol cars has finally been approved.
