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Board approves purchase plan for two jail 'whisper rooms' pending grant funding
Summary
Sheriff's office requested two $8,000 whisper rooms to improve confidential inmate communications; MIDC indicated a potential grant to cover half and the remainder would use commissary funds. The board authorized the purchase contingent on the grant.
Sheriff's staff described a plan to add two "whisper rooms" to the county jail — small, phone‑booth‑style enclosures in day rooms to permit confidential attorney‑client conversations, support groups and religious meetings.
"We want to purchase two. We would put one in each of our largest day rooms...they're $8,000 a piece," Eric said. He said MIDC has indicated potential grant support to cover roughly half of the cost and that the county would use commissary fund balances (revenue from inmate commissary sales) to pay the remainder so no general fund dollars would be used.
Commissioners confirmed that the rooms would improve confidential communications and asked about grant confirmation; staff said they had exchanged emails with grant contacts and requested authorization to move forward contingent on MIDC funding.
The board voted to authorize purchase contingent on grant award and use of commissary funds if needed. Staff will return with final grant documentation and procurement details for the purchases.
