County Commission tours two buildings as part of jail expansion quest

The Lincoln County Commission on Tuesday visited two local facilities — Asa Wood School and Flathead Valley Community College — that could play a part in the county jail’s expansion plans.

The commission is considering relocating certain county offices to allow the jail to expand within its present location in the basement of the Lincoln County Courthouse. Preliminary ideas include moving the sheriff’s administration offices out of the basement to allow for Sheriff Roby Bowe’s desired tripling of the number of cells, from 24 to upward of 70.

In addition to the two school buildings, the commission is also wondering whether the Libby Library, located next to the courthouse, might be a more logical location to house any relocated offices.

Commissioner Mark Peck said Wednesday that they had made no decisions and were considering all options to be “on the table.” He did note, however, that bringing Asa Wood School up to code would be a formidable task and that Flathead Valley Community College was “well-suited” to its location and using most of its available space.

Jim Muskovich of the Montana Association of Counties toured the jail Wednesday, July 26. He said he is “fully behind” the county’s preliminary idea to expand the facility’s capacity by using the jail’s existing space.