Houghton County Sheriff Josh Saaranen is hosting Q&A sessions in September for residents with questions about a $28 million jail bond on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The "Coffee with the Sheriff" sessions are at the Houghton County Sheriff's Office, 403 E. Houghton Ave. in Houghton. Three more sessions are on the calendar: Thursday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m.

Jail committee members will join Saaranen at the sessions, where residents can ask questions in a casual setting without formal presentations, the Keweenaw Report reported. Attendees also get a tour of the jail's kitchen, basement and cell area, according to Upper Michigan's Source. During a Thursday, Sept. 10, tour, jail staff pointed out exposed wiring, cramped conditions and plumbing systems that need frequent repair.

"The main goal is to have an informal conversation with the public," Saaranen said. "To allow them to come in and not only see the jail... This is not only about the election, but to see our operations here, to see what their tax dollars are going towards. To be as transparent and open as possible, and available."

Atlantic Mine resident Donna Laux toured the jail Thursday. She said she was undecided about the need for a new jail before the tour but changed her mind afterward. Asked what stood out to her, she said, "Just about everything." "It's not safe for the inmates, I don't think, and it certainly isn't for the staff," Laux said. "They're working with inadequate conditions... It's obsolete, and hopefully they can make use of this building in another capacity."

Saaranen said the sessions and tours will continue beyond the November vote. "I want to know if there are concerns or if there's criticism or if we can do a better job, or if they have a really good idea," he said. "Anything will be on the table."

The Sharon Avenue property, where the new jail is planned, carries extra significance for the ballot measure: the county clerk plans to use it as the early voting center during the November election.

What's on the ballot

If approved, the 1.6-mill levy would cost property owners $160 per year for every $100,000 of taxable value, according to Upper Michigan's Source. The bond would fund a new jail with a minimum of 60 beds.

Jail Committee Co-Chair Faith Morrison proposed a resolution at the August meeting of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners to spell out the bond's eight project goals in plain language, including the 60-bed capacity, a new facility site and upgraded operational spaces. Morrison also submitted a draft addendum that would increase the minimum bed count to 70, scheduled for the board's consideration at its Tuesday, Sept. 15, meeting.

Morrison told the board that Saaranen has serious concerns a 60-bed facility would be too small for the county's needs over the next 40 years, the expected lifespan of the new jail. "A great deal is being asked of the public on Nov. 3," Morrison said at the August board meeting, according to the Daily Mining Gazette.

Support and pushback

The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country voted unanimously on Aug. 18 to endorse the millage. The organization said it supports replacing the existing facility with one built for functional, cost-efficient and energy-efficient operations that comply with state requirements.

The Copper Country Republicans withdrew their support for the jail millage on Thursday, Sept. 10, citing taxpayer concerns and the county's financial situation.

The Nov. 3 election will determine whether the bond moves forward.