SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – Shawano County Jail is need of technology improvements and in need of borrowing money to make them.
The jail was built in 1994, and since that time, technology has made so many advancements, the jail is in need of an update.
“The technology that went into that building doesn’t exist anymore.”
Jail Administrator Greg Trinko says the needs include security upgrades and upgrades in their camera systems.
“One person watching cameras can cover a lot more ground than one person can.”
The current camera system leaves a need for quite a bit of human labor.
They have also had problems with their overall security malfunctioning, including the security that keeps the jail cells locked.
“We have not had an actual escape from the jail, but we have had inmates get out and enter some areas that they should not be in and that raises everyone’s concern.”
Trinko says the upgrades are costly, but many, including county board members, see the need, and the without a change, they are on borrowed time.
He says while the upgrades would cost $3.5 million dollars, the cost of not doing anything could be more.
“If the technology is failing, we replace that technology with people. That involves overtime pay and wages,” he said. “We would continue with business as usual until we have some type of failure that would prevent us from operating our jail.”
The request to borrow 3.5 million dollars is expected to be voted on by the county board.
