New Wood County Jail On Schedule and Under Budget

Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(Karen Madden, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) County leaders say construction of the new Wood County Jail is on schedule and under budget.

According to Karen Madden with the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, the jail project, which broke ground in October 2022, should be finished by the end of 2024, Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker said.

Once it's finished, corrections officers will need time to train in the new facility and learn the procedures for the new jail. Becker anticipates the Sheriff's Office and Jail moving into the new building by February 2025.

The bids for the jail came in at about $98 million. The county hasn't had to touch the project's contingency fund yet, said Laura Valenstein, chairwoman of the Wood County Jail Construction Ad Hoc Committee.

It's likely it will have to be used at some point during the process, she said. "It will happen, but I'm real happy to be on budget," Valenstein said. The project also is slightly ahead of schedule, Valenstein said. It should be opening by early 2025.

Although the county has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections on the jail plans throughout the construction process, the state will need to approve the new facility before it gets used, Valenstein said.

Becker said he is trying to do a walk-through of the new jail at least twice a week and is encouraging jail administration to take regular walks through the building.

The frequent walk-throughs can help spot problems that need to be fixed while it is still easy to do.

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