County officials are working on a $275,000 upgrade to the jail

Winneshiek County officials are working toward opening bids in October on around $275,000 in upgrades to the Winneshiek County Jail.

A number of improvements are being discussed, but the most critical upgrades, according to county officials, involve technology at the jail.  Tentative plans call for updating some security cameras and installing additional security cameras as part of an overall update of the jail's computer network.  The current jail technology is nearly 20 years old.

Also under discussion is an update to the jail control room, the addition of video visitation capabilities and creation of a padded room for some intake prisoners.

The current plan calls for sending out bid documents next week, opening bids late this fall, then having work done February through April of next year.