The first of what are expected to be several public meetings with regard to the future of the Montgomery County Jail will take place Wednesday evening, in Red Oak. The meeting is being held in the Montgomery County Courthouse basement meeting room, and is under the direction of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.

According to County Auditor Ted Schoonover, the purpose of the meeting is to gather input from residents of the county on what should be done with the old jail, and will be held as construction on a new jail/public safety center – which was approved by the voters in August, 2010 — continues. Some ideas might include demolishing the old structure, save it, or selling it. Schoonover doesn’t expect any decisions to be made at the meeting.

Schoonover says the fact the current jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places will have no bearing on whether the county decides to preserve the structure, or demolish it.