By City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – During the Aug. 6 Wood County Executive Committee meeting, funding was approved for the completion of a study into current jail facility needs.

“The 25,000 dollars was indeed reallocated from a remodeling project planned in the Sheriff’s Department,” said County Board Chair Doug Machon.

Machon said that the vote was unanimous for the study that will give the county the necessary information on items, such as costs for housing inmates in other counties, jail construction, and other factors, which will help county officials make an informed decision on the matter.

“The next step will be to contract with a firm out of Milwaukee by the name of Venture Architects,” Machon added. “They were involved with a space needs study the County did a few years back and are quite familiar with our jail situation.”

The move comes following a July 15 Wood County Public Safety meeting, in which the committee came up with a plan to reallocate budgeted funds that will provide for the study.