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Commission approves three-year contract to house city inmates at Cass County Jail
Summary
After negotiations, the commission approved a three-year contract to house adult inmates at the Cass County Jail beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the contract includes agreed operational assurances and the commission authorized execution by roll-call vote.
At a special meeting, city staff presented a proposed three-year contract with Cass County to house adult inmates at the Cass County Jail effective Jan. 1, 2026. Michael Bridal, a city staff presenter, said the city had negotiated assurances with the sheriff concerning officer safety, property handling and communications equipment for city staff operating in the county facility. "There are some assurances that have been made by the Cass County Sheriff about, the protection, health, safety of our officers... A panic button will be provided to our staff... and a radio is also gonna be provided," Bridal said.
Staff said property-management processes were a point of negotiation and that commissioners could later consider seeking an Attorney General opinion on property-handling questions; staff characterized some commitments as currently verbal and said they would continue discussions with county and legal staff.
Commissioners who toured the jail described a secure facility and said the agreement was needed to maintain local housing capacity. Commissioner Peppcorn described a jail tour with Sheriff Jonner and said the facility has immediate response systems; another commissioner said that if the county did not approve a contract, the city would have no local facility for inmates and federal reimbursement could be affected.
A motion to approve "the contract for incarceration of adult inmates at the Cass County Jail" was moved and seconded. The commission conducted a roll-call vote and approved the contract: Kolpak — Aye; Turnberg — Aye; Pepcorn — Aye; Strand — Yes; Mahoney — Aye. The motion carried and the contract was approved.
Staff advised commissioners that county officials indicated willingness to continue refining non-memorialized items after execution and that the county board would also consider the contract at its meeting the following week.
