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State orders Warren County to close troubled jail

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January 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — The state has told Warren County officials they must closed their troubled county jail by Feb. 2nd. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a notice issued Thursday that the state order “is the result of years of ongoing issues with the jail facility.” Among its problems: failing a state fire marshal’s inspection, inadequate water supplies, inmate escapes, mold, inadequate food storage, cleanliness. The jail is on the third floor of the county courthouse in Indianola.

Iowa’s chief jail inspector had warned the county supervisors the state would close the jail if the county did not set a bond referendum vote by Jan. 31 to pay for renovations or a new structure. The board was expected to set a May 2 bond vote, but the item was removed from Tuesday’s agenda.