Jordan Beck | Daily Press Delta County Commissioner David Rivard does the honors during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Delta County Correctional Facility Tuesday. Representatives of Byce and Associates, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, the Delta County Board of Commissioners, Miron Construction, Securitecture and legislators, as well as community members and people previously involved with efforts to establish a new correctional facility in Delta County, were included in this ceremony.

ESCANABA — Several hundred community members took advantage of an opportunity to tour the new Delta County Correctional Facility during an open house event there Tuesday afternoon.

“The open house was wonderful. We had a large turnout and positive feedback,” Delta County Administrator Philip Strom said.

The event was intended to give residents an idea of what the county is using funds from the millage voters approved in November 2016 for.

“The goal was to show the community members what their tax-paying dollars are going towards and to highlight the professionalism that was (displayed) throughout the project,” Strom said.

Before members of the public were able to visit the correctional facility, county employees were given a tour. This took place from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

“We had probably 30 or more employees for Delta County come in and tour,” Strom said. County employees toured the facility later in the day, as well.

The correctional facility was open for public tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Members of the public took guided tours (led by Delta County Sheriff’s Office employees) through several different parts of the facility — including its cell block, intake and booking area and kitchen.

Gladstone resident Mike Pryal said he was impressed with the new correctional facility.

“I think it’s outstanding … money well spent,” he said.

Lisa Pichette, of Garden, said she was also glad to get a first-hand look at the new facility. Pichette noted she did not plan to come back.

“I thought it was very interesting, and I’m for sure never going to end up in a jail,” she said.

Former Delta County Sheriff Gary Ballweg said he was glad the county’s plans to establish a new correctional facility have become a reality, thanking citizens of the county for their support.

“The old jail was very difficult to work in, and it was very obsolete,” he said.

Along with community members and past and present county officials, representatives of other groups involved with the correctional facility project were present at the new facility Tuesday. Miron Construction Project Superintendent Mike Nell said he was not expecting the event to be as well-attended as it was.

“I’m surprised how many people showed up — you can tell it’s a big community project,” he said.

At 4 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Delta County Correctional Facility took place. Shortly after this ceremony, a variety of people who played a role in the project shared remarks.

Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald gave his thanks to many different people and groups involved with the correctional facility project, including current and former members of the Delta County Board of Commissioners.

“This would not have been possible without the county board noticing the problems that we (had),” he said.

He also said educational programs at the new correctional facility could help the county work towards lowering its recidivism rates.

“Hopefully, we can make a difference through recidivism — through programming, parenting classes, GEDs, getting inmates out working,” Oswald said.

Delta County Commissioner David Rivard (who served as the Delta County Board of Commissioners’ chair for much of the correctional facility project) went on to thank multiple people and groups who worked towards the project’s completion and to express his gratitude that the county will be able to replace its existing correctional facility.

“The facility we have right now is decrepit — no question about it — so this is a godsend to us, and we’re really thankful for it,” he said.

Current Delta County Board of Commissioners Chair Patrick Johnson said he believes the new facility will have a positive impact on the county’s courts.

“I think the judges will be very, very happy, because they no longer have to say, ‘okay, you committed such and such a crime? Well, go ahead, because we don’t have room for you,'” he said. Other speakers included Miron Construction Project Executive Todd Sabourin and Project Manager Dave Barrow, Byce and Associates Project Architect Kyle Kerstiens and Securitecture President Joseph Mrak.

As part of Tuesday’s events, a meeting of the Delta County Board of Commissioners also took place in the facility’s rec room that evening. (See related article.)

Strom said while work on the correctional facility is essentially complete, some minor issues have to be taken care of before it is ready for occupancy. Outstanding invoices for work on the facility also need to be closed out.

“Then, we’ll move into the transition planning,” he said. According to Strom, this will include work related to moving employees over to the new facility.

Administrative workers at the Delta County Sheriff’s Office and the road patrol are expected to move into the new correctional facility early this spring, Strom said. Correctional employees and inmates will likely move there in late spring or early summer.