Monroe County Council reaffirms commitment to new jail, members say North Park is not viable

The Monroe County Council voted 6–0 on Feb. 24 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the county’s commitment to build a new jail that meets constitutional standards.

Council member Trent Deckard, who spoke in favor of a strong commitment to building a “constitutional care” jail, said he will not support the North Park property as the site. Deckard called the North Park option a “corpse of a concept,” and said the council needs a document that shows the county is committed to completing a compliant facility even if the site remains undecided. Council member David Henry agreed that North Park is not a viable option despite some county commissioners’ preference for that location.

During public comment, Bloomington resident April Wilson urged the council to move beyond resolutions and said lasting change will require council and commissioners to work together on concrete decisions. The council approved the resolution after the public comment period.

Next steps were not specified in detail during the meeting; council members indicated they expect continued debate over siting and implementation. The resolution passed 6–0.