Houghton County will continue to discuss with communities ways to improve public safety. Despite the results of the jailhouse millage in Tuesday’s election, Commission Chair Tom Tikkanen says there was progress. At a minimum, residents are talking about the facility, and 30 percent of voters participated in a local election.
November’s presidential election saw more than 70 percent of voters turn out. An August election in 2024 drew about 22 percent of the public to the polls. In November 2018, the last time a jail construction millage was placed on the ballot, about 60 percent of voters cast ballots.
And as we go forward, and as people realize how much their property taxes would be affected by a millage request like this, I think in time they will understand that this is a reasonable and necessary request in the long run. But for the moment, people have spoken. But I do think we were at least successful in getting the community to become aware of the ongoing need. And hopefully, there will be a willingness to approve the construction of a new facility. – Tikkanen, Chair, Houghton County Board of Commissioners
The county may return in November after failing to pass a jailhouse construction millage for the fourth time. Commissioners have stated that, leading up to the August 5th election, the proposal would likely appear again if it failed on Tuesday.
In June the Houghton County Sheriff began offering tours of the facility to the public. Allowing residents to see how the design presents challenges. Since the jailhouse was built in 1963, storage areas have taken on dual purposes. The linear style can also lead to dangerous situations for inmates and staff.
I think that over time, as a part of this ongoing process, hopefully, the community will realize that it’s not just incarceration that we are talking about. It’s also improving the judicial efficiency of our courts. So that when we have people who need to wait or spend time there during the trial. That they’ll be held in a safe facility, that’s safe not only for our prisoners, but also for the workers. – Tikkanen, Chair, Houghton County Board of Commissioners
Sheriff Josh Saaranen thanked the community for participating in the voting process. He adds that his department remains committed to improving public safety and responding to the community’s needs in an emergency.
As the Houghton County Sheriff and the team, we are going to, to the best of our ability, continue running the facility that we have. I look forward to more community engagement. In the future, I’d like to continue giving jail tours and showing people from the public and the community what we’re doing here at the sheriff’s office. What we’re looking at, and why we’re asking for a new facility. – Josh Saaranen, Sheriff, Houghton County Sheriff’s Office
Commission chair Tom Tikkanen says jail millages tend to have difficulty passing voters. Not just in Houghton County. He adds he’s proud to see close to one third of voters take part in the August 2025 election, regardless of the outcome.
The Houghton County Commission will begin renewed discussions on the jailhouse and the need for a facility on Tuesday during its august board meeting.
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