Local forum spotlights debate over building a Morgan County jail

A central policy debate at the forum focused on whether Morgan County would benefit from its own jail. Lowell Akins (deputy jailer and candidate) presented detailed cost figures drawing on regional examples and current housing contracts: he said Morgan County pays approximately $480,000 annually to house inmates in Round County and that operating a local 300‑bed or regional jail carries substantial recurring costs (staffing, medical contracts, utilities and maintenance). Akins cited a 2016–2018 regional jail build that cost roughly $27 million as an example and warned that maintenance needs — such as a $200,000 air‑conditioning replacement cited in another county — can create unexpected liabilities.