Ontonagon Village discusses needed jail repairs

By JAN TUCKER

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Ontonagon — The Ontonagon County Jail is over 50 years old and sheriff Dale Rantala told the county board Tuesday there are some needed repairs.

The most serious need is to repair showers. He explained the plumbing in the jail needs to be redone. Rantala said plumbers have indicated it is getting harder and harder to find replacement parts.

He explained currently three of the five cells need water turned on to have the showers work and if not turned off, they run continuously. “This causes unnecessary work for the corrections officer and waste of water,” Rantala explained.

The county board agreed to take bids for repairs.

Rantala told the board he has received a grant to get the live scan machines updated at the jail. He has received $15,495 funding from the National Criminal History Improvement project. The scan will facilitate the capture of electronic fingerprints, palm prints and mug shots for the purpose of improving the overall criminal history within the state. The grant will cover all but $49 of the cost of the scanner.

In other jail action, Rantala told the board he has hired Kenny Lee Waldrop as a corrections officer.

Cathryn Beer, of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, interpreted some health data collected from a survey of 5,000 residents of the U.P. It covers health data, income, access to health care and other data on personal habits. It showed a correlation between age and habits involving alcohol and drugs.

Beer said the agencies hope to obtain grants or information from other units to begin to work on the solutions to some of the health problems.

In other action, the county agreed to a memorandum of agreement for the Employment Assistance Program.

The board also agreed to offer the position of airport manager to Lisa Linna, of Ontonagon.