HOUGHTON – Construction work at the Houghton County Jail is progressing smoothly, according to Sheriff Brian McLean, though the project was pushed back a couple of weeks due to the roofing crew being delayed past the start date.

The project includes expansion of the kitchen, which will be upgraded to meet state health codes and also an expansion of the administrative offices.

McLean said the expansion is necessary.

“There isn’t any room to store anything anymore, because the closets are full. Just additional square footage will help with just putting stuff away.”

The construction will provide an addition of approximately 2,492 square feet, on the main floor and in the basement.

“Actually, at times it looks small,” McLean said. “It’s like having a 14-foot-wide trailer. But we’ll be happy with whatever additional space we get. It’s an improvement.”

Currently, most of the food used for the inmates is stored in the basement, which will not change when the construction is completed, however, there will also be additional food storage immediately adjacent to the kitchen and will include dry storage space, a walk-in cooler and a walk-in freezer. The added food storage will allow the department to purchase food in bulk, as well as increasing efficiency, which will result in cost savings.

In the kitchen, the old wooden cabinets and laminated plastic counter tops are being replaced with ones made of stainless steel. The old kitchen stove, intended for a home, has been replaced with a restaurant-grade gas stove, equipped with an exhaust hood.

While the kitchen is under construction, meals for the inmates are being prepared at the work camp facilities near the airport.

Outside, the upgrade will match the existing structure.

“Ten years from now, everybody’s going to think it was always there,” McLean said.