Jail air conditioning a 'high priority,' commission says

Citing a concern for inmate and staff health and safety, the Lincoln County Commission at its Wednesday meeting said inadequate ventilation at the Lincoln County jail was a “high priority situation.”

County Administrator Darren Coldwell described the ventilation in the jail’s three cells as “really poor” and said he was told that in summer months the temperatures there can hit 80 degrees or more.

He said the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, which operates the jail, got an estimate on an air conditioning system that might cost $30,000 to $50,000 and still not solve the problem.

“The contractor wasn’t sure if it would work for the jail,” Coldwell said Thursday via email. “Half the problem is the installation for venting, and what to do with the prisoners during the installation.”

Lincoln County commissioners Mark Peck, Jerry Bennett and Mike Cole agreed that a sufficient solution needed to be found.

Coldwell said “the commissioners were just informed on the situation on Tuesday.”