WAPAKONETA, OH (WLIO) - Auglaize County is looking to start some improvement projects to help first responders and correction officers in 2024.
The Auglaize County Commissioners are hoping to start the renovation and improvements to the Auglaize County Correctional Facility. The five-million-dollar project will triple the size of the block for female inmates and add beds to the mental health and medical area. The county was hoping to have their jail enhancement project started last year, but the delay did benefit them in the end.
"One of the items through the wait period of doing the slow methodical work is that we were the recipient of a $2 million grant from the state for this project. That's fantastic news there, but we are very excited to get this one out of the starting date and get those aforementioned ideas taken care of mental health, medical, and expanding female block," stated Doug Spencer, Auglaize County Commissioner.
The commissioners are also looking at improving communication for first responders this year, especially on the east side of the county, by putting up a new tower for MARCs radio communications.
"We are looking at working with the political subdivision to site another tower on the east side of the county and working with the MARCS statewide system to put up the communications there and really closing the gaps for our public safety personnel throughout the county," added Spencer.
Spencer says the county is looking strong financially. The 2023 sales tax numbers for the county ended around 7% higher than the previous year, and they had slight increases for their 2024 budget.
