An artist rendering of a proposed jail facility on Sharon Avenue. Many people voiced concern when the Houghton County Board purchased a former church property on Sharon Avenue without soliciting input from the public. Recently, the Sharon Avenue & Jail Property Use Committee voted unanimously to demolish the building.

HOUGHTON – The Houghton County Jail Committee has announced Monday, Dec. 8 as the date of its next meeting. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the Conference Room on the fifth floor of the Houghton County Courthouse. Among the agenda items to be discussed is a reminder of the committee’s objectives, to develop a proposed plan for a new jail/Sheriff’s Office that the voters will support. Also on the agenda is possible funding sources including federal opportunity.

An August ballot proposal requesting funding for the construction of a new county jail facility failed. The proposal sought 1.6 mills to allow the county borrow up to $32 million for jail and county building improvements. The proposal was defeated by 972 votes, with 3,629 voting to 4,601. The County Board felt encouraged by what it considered a narrow margin. County Board Chairman Tom Tikkanen said it should not be overlooked that more than 30% of the voters supported the jail millage. While it isn’t a win, he said, it is a step in the right direction for those who support a new facilty.

Among three committees created by the Board to study voters’ response to the proposal, the jail committee was formed, which included local community leaders, elected officials, Sheriff’s Office staff, courthouse staff, and local organizations. The committee’s primary objectives are to determine why the voters turned the proposal down, and to come up with a plan they will endorse.

At the committee’s first meeting last month, Committee Chair Jared Hyrkas said the county needs a solution to the jail crisis the people will support. Among the list of reasons committee members voices were voters do not want their taxes raised. Another reason explored was voters were upset the County Board purchased the former church property on Sharon Avenue without input from the public.

Another reason members mentioned was some taxpayers want other county-owned properties sold. Sharon Fox, with Copper Republicans, said she thinks the voters know the county needs a new jail, but voted no anyway. “Some went to the meetings and it turned them off; their views were not appreciated,” she said. “The issue was pushed down their throat.”

Committee member Dan Holcomb expressed his concern that taxpayers may not understand the extent of the issue. “I don’t think the voters understand the possible ramification of not fixing the jail,” he said.

Faith Morrison, co-president of the League of Women Voters, Copper Country, expressed concern over the lack of transparency from the County Board. “The members of the public may want to know about our discussions. We should have open meetings,” she said. Hyrcas said he had heard almost every reason the taxpayers rejected the proposal, adding he personally agreed with many of them.

Holcomb said at the Dec. meeting, would like to talk about possible locations more in depth, along with county assets, as well as legal requirements regarding where the Sheriff’s Office needs to be located.