COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Some thought the day would never come but a groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday for the new Branch County Jail. The new jail will be built behind the current facility which has been used as the county lockup for 27 years.
The new jail is being built behind the current lockup after a 20-year, 1.25 mill proposal was approved 4,119 to 3,521 by Branch County voters in August 2018. Two previous attempts to pass a new jail millage failed in 2006 and 2016.
Sheriff John Pollack credited the work of a citizens committee and a video that was produced by the Kalamazoo video company Kzoom that showed the dire condition the old jail was in.
Former Sheriff and current County Commission Chair Ted Gordon praised jail employees for their work in difficult conditions.
The ceremony was held even as crews worked to clear trees from the site. It’s estimated the cost of building the new jail will be at least $22 million.
Before it became a jail, the current jail was a senior care facility. Once the new jail is opened, the old facility will be torn down.
