Sheriff warns of rising jail boarding costs; county signs boarding contracts

Sheriff Andy Howe repeatedly briefed the commissioners that Clay County’s jail lacked space for female inmates and that deputies were incurring increased costs transporting and boarding inmates in other counties. The board approved an intergovernmental contract with Union County for jail boarding and renewed the Minnehaha County Juvenile Detention Center agreement for juvenile placements.

Howe noted operational impacts: deputies spend time on transports and boarding logistics, and boarding expenses have risen. Commissioners authorized short-term contracts while the space-needs study and a planning committee examine long-term facility solutions.