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Pine County commissioners weigh jail housing costs, direct outreach to neighboring counties
Summary
At a May 26 special meeting in Pine City, Pine County commissioners reviewed jail operations data, discussed wide differences in intercounty per‑diem housing costs and directed the county administrator to draft a letter inviting neighboring counties to discuss collaborative inmate‑housing options.
PINE CITY, Minn. — The Pine County Board of Commissioners on May 26 reviewed data on jail operations and agreed to pursue talks with neighboring counties about shared inmate‑housing arrangements and other cost‑saving options.
Jail Administrator Rod Williamson presented operational data including current housing numbers, trends and related cost information; the minutes record that specific figures were included in his presentation but those numbers are not specified in the published minutes. Commissioners discussed significant differences in per‑diem rates between counties and the financial impact of housing inmates outside the county.
Commissioner Matt Ludwig moved to approve the meeting agenda at the start of the special session. "Motion by Commissioner Ludwig to approve the agenda. Second by Commissioner Hallan. Motion carried 5‑0," the minutes record.
Discussion centered on ways to reduce future expenses and improve long‑term operational flexibility. Commissioners raised two principal options: modifying the facility to add separation capabilities that could change how inmates are housed within the jail, and working collaboratively with neighboring counties to arrange housing that could lower per‑inmate costs.
The board gave direction to County Administrator Kelly Schroeder to draft a letter to neighboring county officials inviting them to a meeting to explore potential collaboration on inmate housing and related arrangements. The draft letter is to be considered at the Pine County Board meeting scheduled for June 27.
Chair Josh Mohr called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.; the session adjourned at 11:37 a.m. Present at the special meeting were Commissioners Steve Hallan, Roger Nelson, J.J. Waldhalm and Matt Ludwig; Sheriff Jeff Nelson; Jail Administrator Rod Williamson; Assistant Jail Administrator Ryan Thompson; and County Administrator Kelly Schroeder.
The minutes do not record any formal vote on changes to jail policy or facility modifications; the recorded formal action was approval of the meeting agenda (5‑0). The next procedural step recorded is review of the draft outreach letter at the June 27 county board meeting.
