Hunter
01/25/25
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors have unanimously passed a resolution which reinforces its plan to investigate a potential joint law enforcement facility.
KCJJ has previously reported on the numerous infrastructure and space problems plaguing the Johnson County Jail, which has been used well past its useful life. The county has spent $16 million since 2003 to house inmates in other county jails due to poor conditions, and spent thousands each year on temporary repairs.
Studies have concluded that a new facility would be more cost-effective in the long run.
In addition, the Iowa City Council has been moving forward with renovating City Hall, which houses both the police and fire departments.
Architecture consultants from Shive-Hattery say the cost of a new jail alone could run up to $80 million.
Both the City and the County have expressed interest in combining potential costs and creating a joint facility with separate space for the Johnson County Jail and Iowa City Police and Fire.
The resolution passed during this week’s work session puts responsibility on the board for a budget, with acknowledgement that the Board will pay some of the costs required to investigate a possible joint law enforcement facility.