Lee County, IA – The Lee County Board of Supervisors formed a special committee in September 2005 to review the future of the Lee County Jail.
The actual facility was built in 1980, but the concern was a group of temporary housing trailers. The structures were rapidly deteriorating and faced closure by the state.
That prompted the county to conduct a facility evaluation and needs assessment on the jail. The study led to a public vote in August 2007 on the future of the jail.
Residents gave the county permission to borrow roughly $6-million for the project.
The expansion phase of the project got underway in mid-2008 while the renovation phase began in mid-2009. After nearly two years, the project is nearly complete.
Sheriff Buck Jones says his employees are currently using about half of the administration area. He says some minor touch-ups are being completed, this week, so they can start moving into their new offices on Monday, June 14.
The inmate portion of the jail was finished months ago. Jones says the new cell system has allowed for better classification of inmates and has helped improve officer and inmate safety.
"Our problems in the jail have really gone down," said Jones, "I don't want to say they are completely gone. Whenever you have inmates, you will always have problems, but we are probably down about 90%."
Jones says the final pieces of equipment for the new centralized dispatch center will also be installed next week. Lee County dispatchers are already working out of the new LeeComm facility.
A dedication ceremony will get underway at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 27 at the Lee County Jail.