The Reno County Jail Study Committee meeting Tuesday night agreed to recommend to the County Commission that the comprehensive plan involving a new county jail be approved.

That not only includes a new jail, but also moving some non-judicial county departments to the jail annex, renovating the current jail to allow more space for the Hutchinson Police Department and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office including more space to store evidence, holding cells, and additional offices.

The cost for renovation of the current jail back in December was estimated at 427-thousand dollars with the most expensive part would be $208,800 for the mechanical system needed to properly vent the evidence space. But, the total cost now, adding in inflation is up to just under 470-thousand dollars.

The total cost of everything comes to around 28-million, 865-thousand, 134-dollars. The jail committee is recommending that the county try to convince county voters of a bond issue right at 29-million. It appears this would still enable the half cent sales tax to be paid off and the tax would sunset in 10-years or less.

All three commissioners were at Tuesday nights meeting and seem on board with the plan.

The telephone survey of 400 county residents shows that at least 58% of those surveyed said they would be very likely or at least somewhat likely to support additional funding for projects being proposed.

County Officials plan to meet with various groups in the near future to promote the proposal and plans also call for a town hall meeting at some point, prior to the April election. That would give residents opportunity to ask questions or address concerns about the proposal.