Johnson County needs a new jail, and under Iowa law, providing a jail is a fundamental duty of the Board of Supervisors. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has been discussing putting a bond referendum for a new sheriff’s office and jail on the November ballot this year. The board needs to move on from discussions, vote to put the bond referendum on the ballot and commit to supporting the bond campaign.
The need for a new facility is a lingering infrastructure and public safety problem that the board cannot ignore. The county continues to hemorrhage money year after year on out-of-county housing and repairs on a deteriorating building. As I write this, work is beginning on a $3 million repair project just to do the minimum to keep the building safe. The jail is a safety concern for the staff, inmates, and the general public.
Despite this, the decisions around the jail, from the bed count to the need itself, continue to get bogged down by political ideology and reelection-focused handwringing. It is clear that, despite overwhelming public support, the fate of the jail referendum lies in the balance of the June 2 primary election.
All candidates have to make their position on a new facility very clear. No word games, no equivocations, no “yes ands” and no deals. Just a straightforward stance on a critical (and legally required) public safety infrastructure issue that transcends boundaries across the county. At the recent candidate forum in Solon, the jail issue was a mandatory discussion item. This precedent should be followed in future forums across the districts.
Over the last four years, a new facility has been discussed in multiple board meetings and committee meetings and has had extensive coverage by our local media outlets. A scientific study conducted by the University of Iowa showed 74% of respondents across the county were favorable toward a new facility. We have a plan and are closing in on the cost. Yet at no time has the Board of Supervisors taken a formal vote to show their support (or lack) on the matter itself. All of their decisions thus far have either been to approve initial steps, like contracts or studies, or informal consensus during work sessions to keep the train moving. There is still plenty of time for a candidate to find an off-ramp and pull any support they’ve claimed to have.
There will be attempts to derail any momentum and it will likely come in a couple of ways. Board members will seek a way to appropriate a current social issue and conflate the jail with it as a symptom of the problem. Or, you’ll see an effort to insert a poison pill into the ballot referendum itself. Don’t let yourselves be fooled. The candidates in this race owe you a clear stance on the issue, free of sidestepping and avoidance.
Under Iowa law, providing a jail is a fundamental duty of the Board of Supervisors. The candidates need to tell you plainly how they plan to follow the law. Ask them if they support a new jail facility. Then ask them how they plan to contribute their efforts to a successful bond campaign. You deserve to know.
Brad Kunkel is the Johnson County sheriff.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Voters need to know candidate stances on a new jail | Guest Column
Reporting by Brad Kunkel, Special to the Press-Citizen / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
