WINONA, Minn. — The County Board tentatively agreed to borrow $10 million to proceed with preliminary architectural work on a new jail. There wasn’t enough in the county’s reserve to continue planning and complete the project before September, when the state Corrections Department has threatened to close the current jail. The Board voted 4-1 for the low-interest loan. In favor: Steve Jacob, Marie Kovecsi, Chris Meyer, Greg Olson, Against: Marcia Ward, who said she was uncomfortable borrowing before a budget is created for the whole project. The board will make a final decision November 10 on the so-called “bone presale.” Meanwhile, architectural firm Klein McCarthy and construction manager Market and Johnson are working up plans.
The Walz site
The jail will be at the former Walz auto dealership at Third and Washington streets, near the Courthouse campus. The site belongs to the state Transportation Department, which purchased it from Walz to support construction of the second Interstate Bridge.