8 hrs ago
The 30-year-old Boone County Jail has only one bed in the infirmary. A proposed justice center project would add beds to the infirmary, increase the number of cells for inmates and program spaces to reduce repeat offenders. Submitted photo
At the end of the Boone County Council meeting, county Commissioner Jeff Wolfe informed the body that every 1% increase in interest rates will cost the county $5.7 million on the new jail or justice center project.
Two years ago, a consultant told Boone County that it would need a new jail with more cells at an estimated cost of $55 million. The commissioners and Sheriff Mike Nielsen have since been planning for a jail expansion focused on programs which keep offenders from committing more crimes. They are working to limit the expansion project to about $45 million or less.