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In less than two months, voters in Houghton County will be asked to approve an $11 million bond proposal for a new jail addition. The length of the bond is 20 years and will cost county property owners $37.50 per year for every $100,000.
The Board of Commissioners released a Fact Sheet to explain the need for the jail addition and to schedule a series of public meetings.
In a statement, Board Chair Al Koskela said because of jail overcrowding…criminals who belong in jail are instead being released.
Sheriff Brian McLean said public safety is his main concern and the county needs more jail cells.
The Fact Sheet stated that offenders believe if you do the crime in Houghton County, you don’t necessarily have to serve the time.
The county’s sheet also states that in many instances, repeat offenders who should be incarcerated are not jailed due to lack of available jail cells. They may be arrested for the same offense multiple times before they ever serve time.
Public meetings to answer questions on why the jail addition is needed will be held:
September 27th at 7pm in Adams Township at the Jeffers High School Auditorium
October 3rd at 6:30pm at the CLK Commons in Calumet
October 9th at 6:30pm at the Duncan Township Hall
October 10th at 6:30pm at the Chassell Fire Hall
October 17th at 7pm at the Lake Linden-Hubbell High School Auditorium
October 24th at 7pm in the Houghton County Courthouse Circuit Court
October 25th at 7pm at the Franklin Township Hall.
Information on the proposed jail addition can be found on the Houghton County website and click on Proposed Jail Addition in the upper left (though at this time the link has not been added to the website).
The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country will not be taking a stance one way or the other when it comes to the jail addition.
Dr. Linda Belote presented the Houghton County Board of Commissioners the League’s report on the jail at their regular meeting Tuesday.
Belote said the report also contains public input which she says the board was not willing to seek in the early stages of planning for the addition.
The report detailed the history of the jail and the needs of the sheriff’s department and courthouse.
Their findings acknowledge the need for additional jail space but the League asks the county to form a committee to find the best solution for all of the county’s needs for decades to come.
After the county board approved the language for the November ballot last month, the League voted unanimously to take no position on the proposal but to encourage the public to educate themselves on the topic.
The report by the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country can be viewed on their website and copies can be found at the Portage Lake District Library in the Michigan Room.
