Houghton County jail proposal
In May, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners opted to have U.P. Engineers and Architects conduct a feasibility study on possibly building an addition to the back of the courthouse for the jail.
Voters in Houghton County soundly defeated a millage proposal in 2010 to construct a new $15 million jail with 110 beds.
This new study is looking at a lower-cost solution to the jail dilemma to see whether a population of 60 to 70 beds would fit in the space where the parking deck is currently.
Plans for the new jail will be sent to the Michigan Department of Corrections in Lansing for review.
U.P. Engineers and Architects will also soon present a cost estimate and a rendering of the outside of the jail to the board.