Sibley, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Osceola County officials held a ceremonial ground-breaking Tuesday for a new jail in Sibley. A 5-million-dollar bond issue was approved by voters over two years ago, but the project was held up over bids that came in substantially over original estimates. At one point everything on the want list was at 7.44 million, but supervisors wanted to stick to the 6.4 million dollar plan. That meant cutting some corners and postponing a remodel of the Sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Kevin Wollmuth told Northwestiowanow.com he’s relieved to get the project underway:

Osceola County had to get the project started or they would lose nearly 1.5 million dollars in ARPA funds approved during Covid. The new jail is expected to be completed in 2026. Sheriff Wollmuth said the current facility was so old it faced closure by the state jail inspector.