Johnson County needs a new jail. Under Iowa law, providing a jail is a fundamental duty of the Board of Supervisors. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has been discussing putting forth a bond referendum for a new Sheriff’s Office and Jail in November of this year. The board needs to move on from discussions and vote to put the bond referendum on the ballot, board members must commit to working to make sure the bond passes.
The need for a new facility is a lingering infrastructure and public safety problem the board cannot ignore. The county continues to hemorrhage money year after year on out-of-county housing and repairs on a deteriorating building. As I write this, work is beginning on a $3 million repair project just to do the minimum to keep the building safe. The jail is a safety concern for the staff, inmates, and the general public.
Despite this, there are still members of the current board who refuse to take a clear position. The discussions around the jail, from the bed count to the need itself, continue to get bogged down by political ideology and reelection focused handwringing. It is clear that despite overwhelming public support for a new facility, the fate of the jail lies in the balance of the June 2 Board of Supervisors primary election. Johnson County voters deserve to know exactly where the candidates stand. It is not enough for them to acknowledge the need. That’s a no-brainer. The need has been there for over 20 years…