State sets date for county jail closure

The state of Minnesota has set a closure date for the Carlton County jail of July 31, 2023.

The deadline came in a letter from the Minnesota Department of Corrections, dated Jan. 28, 2020, delivered to Carlton County sheriff Kelly Lake and county coordinator Dennis Genereau.

Tim Thompson, inspection and enforcement director of Minnesota Corrections, detailed numerous deficiencies in the current Carlton County jail “impacting the safety and security of the facility, the staff, and the citizens of Carlton County” during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Carlton County board of commissioners.

Commissioner Tom Proulx commented, “I was surprised that this current letter is so harsh — why?”

“The building is inadequate, with antiquated plumbing, lack of natural light, heating, security electronics, cooling and overall poor construction,” responded Thompson. “The facility is beyond the projected life expectancy ... and lacks adequate recreation, programming and other adequate space.” However, the director commended “the remarkable job the staff has done with providing programming” in spite of the facility.

Sanctions, such as restricting the number of inmates housed at the jail, could be put in place if nothing is done. Although there have been extensive studies of options and funding for a new jail, Thompson pointed out that the county board has not made a formal resolution to move ahead.

The current Carlton County law enforcement center was constructed in the late 1970s when there were no strict rules and guidelines for an up-to-date facility. At that time, a new jail was quickly constructed because the old jail had been condemned. Within two to three years, the 24-bed facility was too small and the building was enlarged to house 48 inmates.

There are many issues with the current jail facility:

-The life expectancy of a jail complex is 25-30 years; the Carlton County jail is 40-plus years old.

-The jail population has continued to change, with more and more females incarcerated. -Separate holding areas and staffing programming facilities with enough female officers has been a difficult situation to resolve in the current site.

It is the conclusion of the department of corrections that there are no other options to increase the operational life of the current jail or to provide the services needed in the current, inadequate space.

“If there is a delay of the implementation of the half-percent sales tax, can you extend our time?” commissioner Gary Peterson asked.

“There is a precedent that if the county is close to completing the facility in good faith, that extensions have been granted,” Thompson explained. “The process to build the jail must focus on doing it right and quickly.”

Jail administrator Paul Coughlin acknowledged that more officers would have to be hired for the new complex. Genereau stated that one more janitor would be hired.

A citizen attending the meeting asked if the new jail would provide deluxe housing for the inmates.

Thompson noted that it is not an issue of making the inmates more comfortable. Most people incarcerated in the local jail will eventually return to their neighborhoods. Training and programming while people are incarcerated ensures their success upon returning to the community and, in the end, helps make the local community residents safer, he said.

In other matters Tuesday:

Zoning and environmental services administrator Heather Cunningham explained that of the more than $18 million recycling fees charged at transfer stations throughout the state of Minnesota, only $4 million is directed back to the local environmental services.

“The excess money goes other places, and not for keeping recycling costs lower,” explained Cunningham. “I would like to draft a letter of my concerns on this issue to the State of Minnesota agencies in control and see if this can be remedied.” The board gave their support and asked for the letter to be funneled through them for contacting the Association of Minnesota Counties and our legislative representatives.

Commissioner Peterson asked that the list of townships and city government be brought up to date and published on the county website. Auditor/Treasurer Cathy Korteum said she would handle that task.

Korteum requested that a prominent article run in our local papers in March to encourage people to file for their property tax refund. Participation in that program has been lukewarm and many more Carlton County property owners could receive refunds.