COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Fed up with the overcrowding and constant infrastructure issues at the Branch County Jail, Sheriff John Pollack asked county commissioners during their work session Tuesday to form a committee in order that a jail millage question can be placed on the ballot for November 2018.
He said the jail was overcrowded again on Monday with 145 inmates including 28 female prisoners.
Pollack said the tab for housing female inmates continues to grow. It’s over $106,000 so far this year. In addition, jail incidents are averaging 54 a month.
Pollack has drawn up a list of potential committee members. He feels things have to move quickly since the next general election less than a year away.
A millage proposal which would have funded a $29 million project was defeated in August of 2016 with the “No” votes prevailing 3312-2227.
The proposal would raise over $2.1 million as county taxpayers would have paid an additional 1.5 mills over the next 20 years to help fund a new jail. Some observers felt it was voted down because Branch County residents wanted the county to restore road patrol deputies instead of building a new jail.
