JAIL REPAIRS: Sheriff moves foward with project

August 8, 2012

COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Council gave Sheriff Mark Hodges the approval to move forward with jail repairs at its meeting Tuesday.
The council approved $100,000 out of the Rainy Day Fund, with the rest of the money needed to complete the project to be determined as the project moves along.
The project, which concerns a door opening system, upgrading a camera system throughout the entire building and a request for cabinet renovations, is estimated to cost around $176,139 and to take six to eight months to complete.
“The commissioners gave it a favorable pass,” said County Commissioner Chairman Don Amber to the council at its meeting Tuesday.
Hodges said after looking at several quotes on the project, he chose the quotes from SAS, due to the company’s prices and specifics.
He said the other three quotes were asking for several additional cameras, and the system is already at its full capacity.
“Someday it’s got to happen, and I would prefer we fix it before it goes up, and then we’re going back to starting over again and getting quotes again,” said Hodges.
The council agreed with Hodges, and thanked him for his research on the project.
“We are committed to this project by making this motion,” said Councilwoman Paula Reimers.