Owen County council and commissioners approve purchase of 18‑acre site for proposed jail

The Owen County Council and the county commissioners voted to move forward with the purchase of about 18.003 acres at 909 West State Road 46 for a proposed new jail. County attorney read a council resolution authorizing the council's interest in the acquisition and the motion carried with one abstention.

Council chair opened the action after presentations from BW Construction and Elevatus on site due diligence, design and budget. "Motion carried," the chair said after the vote, and an abstention was recorded. The resolution cited Indiana Code 36‑1‑10.5‑5 as the statutory basis for the fiscal body to express interest in acquiring real estate for a public facility.

The vote authorizes the next steps necessary for closing if the commission proceeds, and commissioners separately approved a companion resolution to execute the purchase agreement and related documents. The council also approved using an identified jail project fund for the land purchase, moving funds between existing correctional and project accounts to cover the transaction's up‑front costs. The auditor reported available balances and the council approved closing one fund and using the larger project fund for the remaining balance.

Officials said these approvals are preliminary and that additional actions remain: BW Construction will return with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) after design is finished, and the county will pursue bond financing and more public hearings on the financing plan.

Next steps include finalizing purchase documents, completing traffic and utility due diligence required by INDOT and local authorities, and scheduling bond‑issuance hearings once a GMP is presented.