The Marshall County Council and Commission members will meet in a joint session next week to hear more details of a proposed jail pod construction project.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer stated that the reason why it’s a joint meeting and not a work session as they would be able to legally make decisions, if necessary. He noted RQAW will have the results of a feasibility study.
“They’ll have an update on what they see in the future and part of the reason why we’re looking at a pod,” said Overmyer. “Baker Tilly will be here with financials whether we pay off the bond, or roll this into another bond.”
The joint meeting is on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 9 a.m. in the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.
The driving force behind movement on the construction of an additional jail pod is an overcrowding situation at the Marshall County Jail. Sheriff Matt Hassel reported to the Commissioners on Monday that the jail population was in the 270s while the recommended capacity is about 239.
Several lawsuits have been filed against the county alleging a variety of issues regarding the overcrowding situation. The Knight Law Firm is assisting the county with damage claims and American Civil Liberties Union lawsuits in progress.
In the meantime, efforts are being made by the judge, prosecutor, Community Corrections and the Probation Department to do what they can to transition inmates into programs or other means to keep down the population in the jail.
Marshall County continues to work with Elkhart County, however County Attorney Jim Clevenger noted that facility just took in several inmates from Wabash County so the available space will be limited to how many inmates can be housed there from Marshall County.
