COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County voters will decide in August whether or not they want to pay for a new county jail.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners approved the language for a proposed county jail millage during Tuesday’s meeting on a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Dale Swift cast the only “no” vote and expressed his concerns about the $29 million project coming in within budget. He also feared the jail would affect smaller projects.
If the millage is passed on August 2, 2016, it would raise over $2.1 million as county taxpayers would pay an additional 1.5 mills over the next 20 years to help fund the new Branch County Jail.
Risk Control Consultant Tom Cremonte bluntly told commissioners during their work session last Thursday that the facility, which was built in the 1950’s, is outdated and had a lot of areas of liability. He said the area for female inmates was packed “like a can of sardines”.
Two sites are being considered for the new jail. County Administrator Bud Norman says the primary site is on state prison property. Norman hopes a couple of informational meetings can be held before taxpayers head to the polls.
