Inmate holding cells being constructed at courthouse

ESCANABA -- Construction has begun at the Delta County Courthouse in Escanaba where an addition is being built to hold inmates attending court once the new county jail is completed on the north side of town later this year.

Workers started demolishing and removing concrete and pavement last week at the construction site located behind the courthouse. A four-cell holding area and officer's work station will be constructed, connected to the existing secured entrance which sheriff's deputies currently escort inmates to district and circuit courts.

"This is a holding cell area for the inmate transports that will be coming over for daily court activities after the new jail is completed," explained Delta County Administrator Philip Strom.

Though the new jail at 2920 College Ave. will have a teleconference system which will allow inmates to complete some court hearings, such as arraignments, from the jail via Polycam connected to the courts, inmates have the right to actually be in court for all court proceedings, he said.

The 1,936-square-foot holding cell addition, which is expected to be completed by the end of September, is part of the county's $18 million new jail and sheriff's department project which voters approved in November 2016.

Construction of the two-story, 160-bed state-of-the-art correctional facility on 13.63 acres on College Avenue began in September 2017 with completion slated for later this fall or early winter.

The new jail is being tied into part of the Delta County Service Center, which is being renovated into a new sheriff's department including road patrol and administration offices, booking space, storage area, and support services space.

Miron Construction Co., Inc. of Neenah, Wis. -- the general contractor/general manager for the new jail project -- has hired several local contractors to complete the work at both the College Avenue site and the courthouse site, noted Strom.