While a new county jail gets built in Cresco, Howard County prisoners could be housed in Decorah

Howard County prisoners could be housed in Decorah while a new Howard County Jail is being built.

Howard County voters in May approved a $5 million bond referendum to fund construction of a new jail.  The construction project is estimated to take 18 months--during which time the jail in Cresco will not be usable.

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx told Winneshiek County supervisors Monday that he's been contacted by Howard County officials about the possibility of housing prisoners in the Winneshiek County Jail while construction is underway in Cresco.  Winneshiek County supervisors authorized Marx to hold negotiations with Howard County officials.  They also gave Marx authority to hire up to two additional jailors--if needed.

Marx says Howard County averages around eight prisoners a day in their jail--a slightly lower number than Winneshiek County's usual jail population.  But having the two counties combined would mean 15 to 20 prisoners in the Winneshiek County Jail, which is why Marx is interested in the extra staffing.

One of the questions that will have to be resolved is what Winneshiek County would charge Howard County to house its prisoners.  Currently Winneshiek County charges $50 a day to other counties to house prisoners.