The McLeod County Board voted in favor of upgrades to the County Jail today (March 18).

Honeywell is overseeing several improvements to the jail’s security, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems to bring the 25-year-old facility into compliance with state Department of Corrections standards. Additional work will help the facility become more energy efficient.

The County Board specified the work should not exceed $1.6 million in cost.

State inspector Tim Thompson previously described the jail as well-maintained and operated, but in need of several upgrades to comply with state rules. Jim Werket, of Honeywell’s automation and control solutions group, said he expects to meet with Thompson next week or the following week for state approval of the plans before the project begins.

At the County Board’s April 22 meeting, Werket will present the final plans for approval. “And then it’s pedal-to-the-metal,” he said after the board meeting.

Jail upgrades are planned to be completed in a stretch of 60 days or less, with workers including McLeod County contractors, Werket said. “It’s a lot of pieces of the puzzle to put together in that short a time.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [2])