MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — One eastern Iowa sheriff is looking forward to moving into a new jail this fall because it is a significant upgrade over the current eight-bed facility. The Burlington Hawkeye reports the new Henry County jail will be able to hold 108 inmates, and it will be much more secure than the current jail.

Sheriff Rich McNamee says the new jail will allow staff to better monitor prisoners and it includes cells for medium and maximum security prisoners. Before McNamee was appointed sheriff in 2013, voters had twice rejected jail referendums in 2005 and 2006. In August 2017, 85 percent of the voters supported the $9.1 million bond issue needed for the new jail.

McNamee says he expects to move into the new facility by October.