Feasibility Study of Chickasaw County Jail Gets Green Light
A feasibility study of the Chickasaw County Jail got the green light Monday.
During their regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved contracting with The Samuels Group to assess whether the 65-year-old facility can be upgraded versus the possibility of building a new jail. The feasibility study would also explore a joint law enforcement center (LEC) with the New Hampton Police Department.
Proceeding with the study was approved 4-to-1, with Supervisor Tim Zoll voting against the proposal. Phase I of the study will cost $20,000, which will be paid for mostly with county ARPA funds. Police Chief Zach Nosbisch also told the Supervisors that the City will kick in $5,000 for the study, with funding approved in last week’s City Council meeting.
Greg Wild with The Samuels Group, the same firm overseeing the Floyd County Courthouse and LEC, said the company would begin the feasibility study in June and could take three to four months to complete. If things progress, Phase II would involve design plans.
Supervisors Monday also approved an increase in room and board fees for housing inmates in the Chickasaw County Jail.
That’s Sheriff Marty Hemann, who added that sheriff’s departments in neighboring Fayette and Winneshiek counties also recently increased their jail fees.
Chickasaw County Jail fees are currently $50 a day across the board, but starting July 1st the daily rate will go up to $65 per day and $80 for defendants who wish to serve their time in Chickasaw County on an out-of-county order.
