No room at the ‘crowbar hotel’

December 20, 2018

Calumet on track to build new jail 

By Ed Byrne The Brillion News

CHILTON – The antiquated Calumet County Jail is too small to meet the county’s lockup needs, and too old to meet the standards to which the state holds county jails.

That’s why the county is embarking on a $29 million project to build a major addition onto the northwest corner of the current courthouse annex, for a new jail and new headquarters for the sheriff’s department.

There are also new offices for the medical examiner and emergency management, and a secure garage for police vehicles.

As a part of the project, security for the county’s two circuit courtrooms will be substantially upgraded – screening anyone wishing to get into the courts – and the portion of the building housing the current jail and sheriff’s department will be gutted and left vacant until it is needed by other county departments. The infrastructure in the current jail would be demolished and removed.

The project also renovates the third floor of the courthouse.

Needs, not wants

Last week, Sheriff Mark Ott – who retires in January – gave a presentation on the project to the Hilbert Village Board.

Please see the complete story in the December 20, 2018 print edition of The Brillion News.