Commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting will consider participation in a study that will explore the feasibility of a regional jail.

Saturday, October 16, 1999

Commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting will consider participation in a study that will explore the feasibility of a regional jail. Steele County commissioners and other county officials met with Freeborn County commissioners and Sheriff Don Nolander last Thursday to discuss the study.

&uot;We want to explore opportunities to work with our neighboring counties in constructing a operating a regional jail,&uot; said Steele County Commissioner Tom Shea.

At the meeting, Steele County representatives said they were hoping only for participation in the study at this point. Shea said they have received positive feedback from several other counties.

A grant from the state was provided to fund the study which will examine the options of a regional facility as well as a privately run jail.

Nolander told Steele County representatives that a privately run facility was not a likely option. He also raised concerns about a regional jail that would likely be built in Owatonna.

Transportation for court appearances, meetings with legal counsel and social workers and work release was one such issue. Other concerns focused on visitation and medical issues.

Shea said those concerns would likely be addressed in the study. He added that each county would still have its own jail facilities to use, making it easier for inmates on work release. A regional jail could be used for long-term inmates and overflow.

There are several options regarding transportation Shea offered. Counties could share the responsibility or a private company could be hired to bring inmates to the county in the morning and brought back to the regional facility at the end of the day.

Shea said all options will be addressed in the study.

He added that they are not looking for any sort of commitment to the project at this point.

This is the second year the chamber and the committee have staged the event. Brand said it’s about the same size this year as last, but there’s a different mix of businesses.

In addition to the businesses, a representative from Riverland Community College was on hand. She said her goal was to teach the children about the various training programs and opportunities at the college.

Linda Sauer, a business and office technology teacher at the college, showed the children tools of several trades and answered their questions about college life.

&uot;They ask quite good questions and they’re very responsive,&uot; Sauer said.