ALLEGAN, MI (WHTC) - It's just a matter of time now until the region's newest lockup is operational.
During yesterday afternoon’s Allegan County Board meeting, Commissioners not discussed a letter drafted by Administrator Rob Sarro for state Department of Corrections officials, saying that the new County Jail on the site of the former Haworth seating plant off of River Street in Allegan could accommodate 225 inmates, about 100 less than capacity, due to current deputy staffing and court sentencing practices, but they also heard from Sheriff Blaine Koops that the final hurdle for the new lockup has been cleared. There was an open house in February when construction on the 19 million-dollar structure was complete, but the county fire marshal put a halt on things, brining up mandatory code matters that had to be addressed before the first inmates could be admitted. Who will bear the financial burden for the extra six-month-plus delay is still being debated between the county and the contractor.