Roseau County doesn't have to worry about where it's going to ship its criminals anymore.
That's because it has a brand-new, $7-million detention center of its own now, and it's open for business in Roseau, Minn. The total also includes a new social services center built nearby.
The jail portion will complete its first week of full operation today, and according to Roseau County Chief Deputy Terry Bandemer, all has gone well, save a few minor glitches.
"There are new things to learn, but our staff has been exceptional. They are picking up the stuff really quickly," Bandemer said. "Their patience has been tested and their stress level is up, but we are moving and everything is going well.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections had threatened to shut down the old county jail if it was not drastically updated and remodeled.
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"They said it just wasn't functional; it was just wore out," Bandemer said. "We either had to close or remodel it, but remodeling would have cost about as much as building a new one."
The new setup in Roseau has the 52-bed jail, or detention center, adjacent to the county's former social services center. A new social service center was built behind the detention center. The sheriff's department moved about five blocks up the road and now occupies the old social services center, bringing it next to the new county courthouse to form a law enforcement hub.
The 25,000-square-foot jail has state-of-the-art radio and paging systems, remote doors and the ability to let guards monitor the entire facility at once. The cells are configured in a way that guards can see all inmates. Security cameras also are strategically set in the jail.
"We've got a camera on everything," Bandemer said. "The security has tripled."
Trish Harren, Roseau County coordinator, said groundbreaking on the centers took place in June 2006. She said the county saved money by starting when it did, as the cost of construction has escalated since.
"I don't think we could be more pleased with how it's all turned out," Harren said. "We were able to get them completed at half the cost of doing it today."
Harren said the new 12,000-square-foot social service center was paid for in cash and the county is paying debt service on the jail. About a dozen employees work at the jail, joining 18 law enforcement workers in the sheriff's office.
Bandemer said the jail serves only Roseau County but discussions have begun on housing inmates from other areas.
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Currently, the jail population is about 16 inmates, Bandemer said.
"You don't want to fill up a jail; if you do, it means there are problems in the county" Bandemer said, "but, if we need it, we do have room."
Reach Dodds at (701) 780-1110, (800) 477-6572; ext. 110, or at ddodds@gfherald.com .
