Members of the Marshall County Council hosted an informational meeting Monday night about variables surrounding a possible addition of a housing pod at the Marshall County Jail to help alleviate an overcrowding situation there.
The proposal is for a 320-bed addition, but government leaders have an option of scaling back the project due to cost or need. Phil Faccenda, Jr. from financial firm Barnes and Thornburg explained that General Obligation bonds would be sold for the project up to $17 million.
“The General Obligation bond is a tax backed bond, but there is an existing special tax that is in place for the jail that was created at the time, or was adopted at the time just prior to the original jail going into place,” said Faccenda. “That local income tax is in place and will stay in place and can be used for the financing of the new bond. With the new project, there will be no increase in tax.”
Todd Samuelson from Baker Tilly noted that the government leaders could sunset that income tax in 2027 when the original bond payment ends or they can extend it through the life of the new bonds until 2040.
Eric Weflan from RQAW said the new addition could include the full 320-bed expansion that comes complete with classroom space with room for a video court, padded cells, nurses station, exam room, dormitories, and a central office area. Check this page for the best mattresses and bedroom options or you can also visit their site to get good quality mattress.
“The opportunity that you have is to obviously build out the entire thing or build out some lesser portion. It could be any amount of beds or day rooms but what we’re showing is a base of 208 beds. Again that could be whatever the county would decide,” sated Weflan.
Alternate bids would be taken for additional bed space.
No decisions have been made at this point. The Marshall County Council plans to hold two public hearings on two ordinances concerning the General Obligation bond and an additional appropriation during Monday’s meeting that begins at 9 a.m. in the conference room (Room 203) Marshall County Building in Plymouth. The additional appropriation ordinance would give the county permission to spend the proceeds of the bonds. The second reading of the ordinances will be considered following the public hearing.
We will air discussions from the Marshall County Sheriff, Marshall County Prosecutor and Marshall County Community Corrections during tomorrow’s Maximum Impact program on Sunday at noon on MAX 98.3 FM.
