COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 during their work session Thursday to bring the language for a proposed county jail millage forward to next Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioner Dale Swift cast the only “no” vote.
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Risk Control Consultant Tom Cremonte bluntly told commissioners the current county jail is outdated and had a lot of areas of liability. He said the area for female inmates was packed “like a can of sardines”.
Cremonte said another risk exposure area was the lack of inmate contact and supervision.
Undersheriff Keith Eichler says they had to deal with female overcrowding in recent days.
They sent nine women prisoners to Calhoun County this past Sunday. The female population on Thursday was 20 which was two shy of capacity in the female section.
Two sites are being considered for the new jail. County Administrator Bud Norman says the primary site is on state prison property.
Assuming commissioners approve the jail millage ballot question next Tuesday, Norman said they plan to have a couple of informational meetings before taxpayers head to the polls.
