Wood County Jail. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Wood County Supervisors have taken the final step towards the construction of a new jail complex in Wisconsin Rapids by approving the bonding for the project.
County Board Chairman Lance Pliml says the bonds will be issued in early 2022, allowing construction to begin that spring. He says they’re still working out some of the smaller details of the project, which was approved earlier this summer.
“We’re in the planning stages,” he said. “We know what the cost is going to be, we are working with architects to figure out exactly what it’s going to look like,” said Pliml.
Pliml says the building and operational costs to the county are around $130 million over the next 30 years. If the county were to not replace the jail and instead continue to maintain the current facility, that would cost around $160 million over 30 years for operations and repairs. “That was the big driver for me,” he added.
Safety was also a factor. The design will be based on the pod system, which is much safer than the current linear setup. “That allows for better observation of both those people residing in our jail and the safety of the jailors. That’s a primary concern.
“Our jail also didn’t have the ability to bring in some of the newer, bigger ambulances. We had to load and unload people outside of those facilities which is not secure,” he added.
In addition to the outdated design, Pliml says the equipment has also become obsolete. The county can’t find parts for the locking mechanisms on the doors and other pieces because they are no longer produced.
RELATED: Wood County Supervisors Approve Plans for New Jail
No groundbreaking date has been set. Pliml expects construction will take more than a year and will also involve taking over a portion of Avon Street.
Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect corrected information regarding the cost of the bonding and operations of the facility for the next 30 years.
Comments