A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
The jail cell shown to Carlton County board members last month has bunks for two offenders, as well as a shower, toilet and shelves for supplies and seating. The model was driven into the garage at the transportation building.
The Carlton County Board of Commissioners examined a model jail cell as part of a regular meeting on Nov. 22.
The board met in the Carlton County Transportation building and a jail cell was mounted on a truck and brought to the garage there from the manufacturer in Huron, South Dakota.
The cell featured bunks for two offenders, a small shower, a toilet and shelves for hygiene supplies and seating.
Buddy Johns, a representative of the manufacturer, Coastal Detention Holdings, said the cells are built in the manufacturing facility and brought to the site where a new jail is constructed.
"We can install 100 cells in a week once the site has been prepared," he said.
Each cell has its own power and plumbing controls. They are assembled back-to-back with a small hallway between the cells for maintenance.
"Staff can shut off power to one cell, if necessary," he said.
Covid funding increased
After the presentation, the commissioners returned to the meeting room.
Dave Lee, director of Carlton County Public Health and Human Services, informed the board that the department has received Covid funding in the amount of $558,606 for extra staff time, promoting vaccines and conducting vaccination clinics.
"That's $200,000 more than we had received before," he said.
Road works
County engineer JinYeene Newmann informed the board that the proposal from the Minnesota Highway Department for the project on Minnesota Highway 210 to change the double lanes just east of the Interstate 35 interchange to one-way traffic with J-turns at each end has been modified.
She added that the modifications will result in more safety and efficiency, and Minnesota Highway 61 will be shortened as it enters that area.
Commissioner Mark Thell said he has concerns about emergency vehicles being able to respond to calls in a timely manner because of the extra distance they would need to travel at the interchange.
The commissioners also approved the low bids on two projects in Cloquet on state aid roads.
One bid was awarded to Ulland Brothers in the amount of $4,245,933 for grading, bituminous surfacing, city utilities, storm sewer, roundabout, concrete walk, concrete trail and ADA improvements on 14th Street from Prospect Avenue to Tall Pines Lane.
The other bid was also awarded to Ulland Brothers in the amount of $259,814 for bituminous surfacing, aggregate surfacing and pavement markings on 14th Street in Cloquet from Tall Pines Lane to the Interstate 35 overpass.
