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Baraga County will spend some of its American Rescue Plan funds on new locks for the jail.
At last night’s county board meeting, Sheriff Joe Brogan explained that the existing electronic locks were installed when the jail was built a quarter-century ago. They’ve been obsolete for a long time, and the department has been pirating parts from less-essential doors to keep more-essential doors secure.
Brogan said the locks issue would prevent the jail from passing a safety inspection, which could lead to the facility being shut down.
The locks aren’t cheap, but commissioners agreed they are essential. They allocated $96,293 from the county’s ARPA funds to install new locks on 27 doors.
Brogan also introduced the county’s new undersheriff. 35-year law enforcement veteran Dave Miller takes over for Dan Perrault, who recently left the department to join the Michigan State Police.
