The Marion County Board discuss building project updates at its meeting Tuesday night.
Building Committee Chair Dr. Creighton Engel reports progress is being made on the renovation of the bathrooms on the first floor of the courthouse. Walls are now up and painting will be completed shortly. Engel reported the conference room being created out of part of the former county board meeting room will have wiring to meet more technology needs.
Sheriff Kevin Cripps told the board more major improvements are required at the jail to keep the facility safe. Among them are repairs to the showers in the cell blocks that he is proposing to have coated with an epoxy finish.
“We have some inmates tampering with some stuff in our shower areas. And we also have an issue with a lot of moisture staying in those showers and I’m concerned about growing issues in the future if we don’t address this. I’m trying to get ahead of this, it’s not been dealt with for some time. This is just one beginning stage of upcoming projects that are going to be coming.”
Cripps hopes the board will act on a proposal to complete the work on two shower areas at its next meeting. He reported punch list items are being finalized on a number of projects completed at the jail earlier by contract management firm Ameresco which will clear the way for their payment.
Cripps reported installation of the fire alarm system at the Moose Records Annex has been completed.
The sheriff also reported the county jail currently has 71 inmates, including 21 being held for the federal government. Two juveniles are currently housed in detention. The department answered 770 calls in April, including 87 traffic stops that resulted in 44 citations. Cripps reported the jail served 7,440 meals during the month at a cost of $1.93 per meal.
The board learned sales tax revenue is up over April a year ago. $74,589 was collected in the countywide quarter cent sales tax, up for $67,396 last April. The one cent tax collected from businesses outside city or village limits was $37,302 compared to $33,571 last April.
The board appointed Cheryl Eyre to replace Rita Boudet on the Marion County Housing Authority Board.
