Bannock County sheriff recommends county hold off on jail bond until spring

Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen has been working on a jail expansion bond for months to help with the jail’s overcrowding issue. In May, the bond went on the ballots, but failed to get the super majority needed to pass.

Now, Nielsen said it’s likely the bond will be put off until May 2017. He met with county commissioners Wednesday morning to discuss the bond. His recommendation was to defer the bond until next spring. He said he feels that with the general election in November, there’s already too much on that ballot for people to consider. He feels the bond’s best chance at getting the super majority would be to wait until May.

“I want it to be clear and people to understand what they’re voting for,” Nielsen said.

He said not putting it back up for vote until May would also give him more time to explore every possibility with the bond. It will also give him a chance to explore a possible lease agreement. Nielsen said it also gives him more time to collect better data to take to the commissioners on how much bed rentals and other expenses for upkeep are costing the jail.

Nielsen said the final decision on whether or not to try for the bond on the November ballot is up to the commissioners.