Editor’s note: The millage rate Houghton County anticipates asking voters to consider in August 2025 will collect 1.6 mills for the construction bond.
Before the Houghton County Jail was built in 1963, courts stepped in to close the previous facility, which lacked adequate safety features at the time. In 2025, nearly 60 years after the county completed the existing jailhouse, Houghton County faces similar circumstances.
Previous to this facility in 1963, the previous jail was shut down for fire hazards by the courts. In 1963, I can only assume that this was the popular jail style at that time, this linear jail. The building materials are very similar to other jails in the UP that are the same age, Gogebic County included. So that at that time, I’m assuming, was the latest and greatest for jail design. – Josh Saaranen, Sheriff, Houghton County
Over the decades corrections departments and states have determined a podular style improves safety for staff and inmates. A linear jail places cells along a single row, stretching away from the officer’s observatory. In a podular set up, officers have direct sight into cells and common areas, allowing for quicker response times in the case of an emergency.
Houghton County’s jail houses 28 beds inside a linear style of facility. The structure in 1963 was designed to house inmates, day to day operations, and even acted as the home of the sheriff and his family for several years. As the years progressed various office spaces within the facility became multipurpose and resulting in major space challenges. The officer’s bathroom doubles as closet storage for jail items such as toiletries, and the basement office houses the department’s servers.
When our numbers are down, it seems like people are a little calmer. But I’ve also seen it where we’ve been overcrowded. Numbers in the 40s in a 28-bed facility. We had that for one summer. And that was just disastrous for the staff. We had fights daily, suicide attempts weekly, and we had staff leaving because of those issues. So, a great deal of why we want to get into a new facility is not only for the safety of inmates, but also for the safety of our security staff. We want a very basic jail. We want to be able to serve the inmates on a very basic level. But really to ensure more safety and security for our staff, the people that work for us here in Houghton County, and the people we serve. – Josh Saaranen, Sheriff, Houghton County
During past public engagement sessions county leaders and Sheriff Josh Saaranen have been questioned on the department’s upkeep of the facility over the years. Sheriff Saaranen says Houghton County has kept up with all maintenance requirements. State inspections have passed, though each inspection has concluded with Houghton County needing to make improvements before a higher authority is forced to step in.
Really what it comes down to is if we change anything major within the jail facility itself, any major plumbing projects or changing doors and locks, we potentially could be subject to renovating the whole facility. And this comes from guidelines where the Michigan Department of Corrections has certain standards. And if that were to happen in our current facility there’s the possibility, we could lose bed space from 28 to even lower based on more modern standards. – Josh Saaranen, Sheriff, Houghton County
Larger projects, such as a new roof, infrastructural plumbing, or renovating the Sally Port, could trigger a full redesign of Houghton County’s facility. The cost of such projects would put a strain on the county, including finding secondary housing for inmates. Most likely found downstate.
That would include travel time and transportation costs. Another cost is, other counties will charge us the daily rate anywhere from, I would assume, $40 to $80 per day per inmate. That would be a large cost. And then just the impact on our office and the community. We very well could have an impact on the services that we offer in our field services division. Because they will be transporting inmates back and forth throughout the state. We potentially would have some changes in staffing here at the Sheriff’s Office that I really wouldn’t like to see at all as well. So, we would be affecting a lot of lives while not only spending a lot more money than we do daily. – Josh Saaranen, Sheriff, Houghton County
Houghton County has sought jail construction millage three times in the past 25 years, 2000, 2011, and 2018. The estimate to build a facility today costs between 30 and 40 million dollars. Houghton County and the city of Houghton annexed a 6.2 acre lot in 2024 on Sharon Avenue in anticipation of the project.
The county anticipates asking voters to consider a 1.6 millage rate to fund a 32-million-dollar construction bond. A property with a taxable value of 100,000 dollars would see a $160 increase across winter and summer tax bills.
Those interested in learning more about the proposed plans can find details here.
Those interested in touring the existing facility should contact the Houghton County Sheriff to learn more about tours availability. Sheriff Saaranen says the department would like to keep groups small, between 4 to 6 people at a time, to ensure the safety and privacy of inmates, the public and staff. He adds tours typically have been scheduled on Tuesdays. Contact the Houghton County Sheriff Office at 906 482 0055.
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