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Sheriff says county jail needs replacement; commissioners ask for costs and options
Summary
Sheriff Randy Thaler told the Charles Mix County Board that the existing jail requires extensive repairs and that the county should evaluate a new facility. Commissioners discussed beds, staffing and the prospect of a bond vote and asked staff to gather further cost and capacity information.
Sheriff Randy Thaler told the Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners on May 28 that the county's existing jail is requiring increasing repairs and maintenance and that the county should evaluate building a new facility. Thaler listed capital and systems needs at the current jail, including plumbing, HVAC, security upgrades, windows and doors, and framed those needs in the context of rising court sentences and operational pressure.
The board discussed planning elements including the number of beds a new jail should contain, estimated construction and operating costs, the need for additional staff and the possibility of putting a bond before voters. Commissioners did not take formal action; they asked staff to gather more information and return at a future meeting with updated cost estimates and options.
The discussion followed an executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss personnel under SDCL 1‑25‑2; that session ended with no action taken. Commissioners said they wanted more detailed fiscal and operational data before deciding whether to proceed with bond financing or other funding options.
