Township, county boards revisit jail building issue

By Jolene FarleyOfficials and citizens toured the Rock County Law Enforcement building Tuesday during a joint meeting between township and county boards.Rock County and local township officials meet once a year to discuss county issues.Before boarding a bus from the library to the law enforcement center, Sheriff Mike Winkels updated township and county representatives about recent drug busts. Once at the law enforcement center, Sheriff Winkels told the group that while planning the most recent drug bust 19 people had to meet to discuss the specifics of the case and finding space for a group that size was an issue. During Tuesday’s tour the group of about 40 people was split and the smaller groups toured a different area of the building because it was difficult to fit many people in the cramped quarters.Winkels stressed the lack of a secure area to hold prisoners and the lack of space in general during the tour. The jail cells, which can no longer hold prisoners because of state regulations, are used for storage. The 911 system, partially housed in the basement, will likely need to be replaced in the next few years, according to County Commissioner Jane Wildung.Wildung told the group that some electronic and computer equipment is currently housed in the damp basement. In the winter the walls are covered with frost, and that isn’t good for the equipment. The wiring in the building was called "an electrician’s nightmare" by members of the group because of the mass of wires running across a small area of the basement.County officials and law enforcement seemed to agree that at some point in the near future the current facility will need to be remodeled or the law enforcement center moved to a different location, possibly an addition on the Rock County Human Services Building.In other business at the joint meeting:Doug Bos of the Rock County Land Management Office reviewed the noxious weed program and the enforcement of noxious weed policies.
Land Management Office Director Eric Hartman reported on the progress of feedlot inspections in Rock County. About three-fourths of the feedlots in the county have been inspected, according to Hartman.Hartman also talked about the state and county permitting process required for wind turbines.