The Warren County Building and Grounds Committee has created a Citizen Advisory Committee to address the Warren County jail, a building that was constructed in the 1870s.
The 22 member committee, with former State’s Attorney Chip Algren serving as chairman, must decide whether to keep the current jail as is, continue sending inmates to surrounding jails, repair the existing structure, add on to the facility, or build a new jail.
Estimates for a new jail could be anywhere from nine to 12 million dollars, but Building and Grounds Chairman Sean Cavanaugh says action must be taken.
“I always say you can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality, and believe you me, if we do nothing, the consequences are going to be catastrophic.”
The Citizen Advisory Committee had their first meeting Monday.
Article written by Matthew Needham.
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