Putnam Commission Chair Says Jail Intentions are Clear

Putnam County Commissioners Chair Mike Atwood said a working group decided to keep the jail and justice center downtown after much consideration.

Atwood was on the committee appointed two years ago that studied the issues on where to expand the jail and justice center. He said he does not know why it would be suggested the issue has not been discussed enough.

“I don’t know where that came from, it’s not you know, anybody’s responsibility to contact everybody,” Atwood said. “It’s everybody’s responsibility to get involved and learn what the issues are.”

Atwood said the decision was not cut and dry to expand downtown. Atwood said there are a number of reasons why building downtown was decided on, including cost, safety and mandated facilities that already exist at the current location.

“Those decisions or those pro’s and con’s were weighed and the determination by the committee was to build on site,” Atwood said. “That committee made the recommendation to the commission, I believe back in April.”

Although many of the committees findings centered around costs and safety, overcrowding has been a long standing issue. Atwood said overcrowding even shut the jail down in the past.

“When David Andrews was our sheriff the fire marshal shut us down because of overcrowding,” Atwood said. “We’ve had the problem for many, many years and so the intention of the commission was to find and solve the problem.”

Commissioners voted 16-8 Monday night to spend $1.3 million to purchase land at 538 East Spring Street and 613 East Broad Street. These two pieces of property will be used to create available parking if the jail and justice center are expanded.