The Jones County jail is looking to create more space for its female inmates. The Jones County Sheriff's Office has plans to expand the jail and add more beds to the female cell block. With 16 beds inside, the department wants to add another 40 bed spaces. County Administrator Jason Rizner says the project will cost about $2.6 million from general funding.
"It's easy to get excited about parks and those types of things, but this is something that is one of the essential functions of government," said Rizner.
Sheriff Butch Reece said expanding the jail is something he's wanted to do for about six years. Rizner said now that they have the funding and conceptual plans, it's time to move forward.
"We'll be moving from those conceptual plans to construction plans," said Rizner.
He said the county plans to start construction on the jail in 2019.