State threatens to close Walsh County Jail if new facility isn't built

GRAFTON, N.D. — The fate of the Walsh County Jail is in the hands of voters.

The North Dakota Department of Corrections has warned the county that the jail will be shut down if a new one is not built.

It’s not a question if the current Walsh County Jail will close, but when. County leaders are under the impression that date is much sooner rather than later.

Sewer backups in cells, corroded pipes and mold in the basement are just a few of the dozens of problems inside the 50-year-old jail, which also houses the sheriff’s department.

The jail also has no air conditioning.

“Our jail has outlived its lifespan. There has been continual maintenance done on the jail, but it has just simply worn out,” said county commissioner Kristi Brintnell.

Twelve years ago, the jail was reduced from 25 beds to 16 due to the condition of the facility. Sheriff Ron Jurgens said he currently spends nearly a quarter of a million dollars shipping inmates across the state.

Right now eight county inmates are spread out as far away as Williston, more than 300 miles away from Grafton.

“We put them in the back of a squad car and drive them three, four, five, six hours away,” he said.

Proposed is a $42.6 million jail and sheriff’s office. The new law enforcement center would be three times bigger than the current LEC. The jail would have 46 beds. It would include beds for women and people experiencing mental health episodes.

“They are allowing us basically to remain open because we are looking at building a jail,” Brintnell said.

Voters will be asked two questions:

The first is a sales tax increase of 3/4 of a percent. That equates to 75 cents for every $100 spent in the county.

Question 2 is a 20 mill increase on property taxes. That’s about an extra $90 a year on a $100,000 home, or $199 a year on a quarter of land.

Both need a simple majority to pass.

Brittnell said the county did a study that showed if the new jail is not built and the county has to transport inmates for 20 years, doing so would cost $12 million more than building the new jail.

Not only would it cost more, but Sheriff Jurgens said it would take deputies off patrol to transport inmates across the state.

“Having 20 more inmates to try and find beds for will be a nightmare for me,” he said.

If the project is approved by voters on May 13, construction would begin next year and be finished in 2027.

The old LEC would then be demolished for a parking lot.

The polls are open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Walsh County Courthouse.

Absentee ballots are also available.

Walsh County citizens can calculate the tax impact on their home and property by visiting the walshcountyvote.com

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.