Sibley, IA (KICD)– Voters in Osceola County will decide the fate of a bond issue in November that will determine whether or not a new jail can be constructed.

Sheriff Kevin Wollmuth tells KICD News the current facility in Sibley, like several others in the area, is getting to the point that it is too old and needing some major upgrades or replacement.

Sheriff Wollmuth specifically sites safety as one of the many reasons this project is needed.

When it comes to the new facility, Sheriff Wollmuth is not looking for any major expansions other than to give staff some additional space to work.

The estimated cost for a new jail in Osceola County is 5.3 million dollars. A little over a million of that will be covered by federal funds received by the county with the rest being covered by a slight annual increase in property taxes.

There is no specific timetable for when work on a new facility could potentially begin if the bond passes in November, but Sheriff Wollmuth notes the federal ARPA funds do need to be used by 2026.