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Commissioners Urged Not to Demolish Old Jail

By Greg Bebermeyer

01/17/2012

A Hiawatha resident is urging Brown County Commissioners not to demolish the old county jail.

Dean Tollefson met with commissioners today ( Tuesday ) to voice his opposition to demolition of the building, and asked them to reconsider having it destroyed.

Tollefson said he believes there has to be some use for the building.

Commissioners pointed out that no one has stepped forward yet to express an interest in purchasing the building.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts said he wished someone had a use for the building so it could be put back on the tax rolls.

Commissioner Warren Ploeger said the building was designed for a single purpose-as a jail. He said renovating the building would cost more that constructing a new building.

Currently, plans are to auction off the contents of the building in March, and then have the structure demolished, using the space as a possible parking lot.

The old jail, which was constructed in 1929 and expanded in 1982, was vacated after the new county jail opened across the street in 2010.

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