Gazette File Photo The Houghton County Jail is seen in this 2024 Gazette File photo. The jail committee will meet Monday to discuss the next step following voters defeat of a bond proposal for a new jail last August.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton County Jail Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Monday,in the Conference Room on the 5th floor of the Houghton County Courthouse.

The primary of objectives of the committee are to determine why voters turned down the August 2025 millage proposal, and to come up with a plan the committee can endorse. In addition, it is seeking to develop a new plan for a jail facility voters will approve.

Last August, voters rejected a request for 1.6 mills to allow the county borrow up to $32 million for jail and county building improvements.

In response to the millage defeat, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners created three committees comprised of local community leaders, elected officials, Sheriff’s Office staff, courthouse staff, and local organizations.

One of these is the Jail Committee.

The March 2 Jail Committee meeting included an update on social media efforts of the committee, among them a Facebook page that has been started.

Also discussed was a request through Congressman Jack Bergman (R-Watesmeet) for Federal funds for engineering plan costs (up to $2 million). The application submission was due at Bergman’s office on November 3. The application was submitted on time. The funds, if awarded, may become available in 2027.

The public can attend Monday’s meeting in person, or via Teams, at teams.micosoft.com/Meeting. ID: 221 238 243 446 85

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