Marshall County Community Corrections eyes move into former Bowen Center building; council approved purchase, board discusses timeline and security

Marshall County Community Corrections staff told the advisory board that the county council has approved purchasing a former Bowen Center building for the Community Corrections office and that staff expect to take keys possibly in November as the council finalizes an appropriation.

The move matters because the building — described in the meeting both as 401 Plum Street and later as 401 West Jefferson Street — would give Community Corrections dedicated classroom space, a full kitchen and laundry room used previously for skills training, and roughly 1,800 square feet for the office; staff said the site is centrally located near the courthouse. Board members noted the address was stated inconsistently during the meeting and said they will confirm the official street address before public communications.

Beau, identified in the meeting as the director for Community Corrections, said the building will need interior improvements and some security work because “when you walk in the front door, you have access to the entire building.” He said the county commissioners plan to handle…