COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners decided during their work session Thursday to bring forward a resolution authorizing the County Building Authority to finance a project for a new county jail.
A 20 year millage question to help fund the nearly $29 million jail will come before Branch County voters on August 2, 2016.
Bond Counsel John Axe said the resolution is one of the necessary steps for the jail project after the proposition was recently placed on the ballot by Commissioners.
He said there was a 45 day referendum period which expires at the end of July right before voters cast their ballots on the millage question. The resolution is needed before any bonding can take place.
Meanwhile, County Administrator Bud Norman says they are planning to hold information meetings on the jail project for the public June 16 and July 26. The June 16 meeting would take place before absentee ballots are sent out. The meetings would be held in the evening.
The location for the June 16 meeting has not been determined yet. Norman says the July 26 meeting would take place at the Community Health Center of Branch County Conference room.
Formal action by commissioners on the resolution and the meeting dates is expected to be taken Tuesday.


