COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Sheriff’s Department is once again asking County Commissioners to authorize the use of access millage funds to complete a proposed evacuation and evidence garage that was included in the original plans for the jail and Sheriff’s Office.
The garage has been talked about for several years and Sheriff Fred Blankenship said in his memo to the Commissioners for their work session on Tuesday that the building was always intended to be part of the overall jail millage project.
Because of funding constraints at the time of construction, the County was required to delay this portion of the plan.
Blankenship says the need has not gone away and it has increased.
The building would be used for large evidence and vehicle storage. It would also provide a temporary housing location for inmates in case a disaster would close the jail.
The estimated cost is between $900,000 and $1-point-2 million. Blankenship says there is currently $1-point-6 million available in access millage funds so there would not be a need to borrow funds.
The Kalamazoo firm of Abonmarche Byce would design the garage at a cost not to exceed $1 million. A letter of intent was submitted by them to the county in December.
Commissioners voted to bring the request forward for formal action during their meeting on Thursday afternoon.
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