More problems are popping up at the new Woodbury County jail, and the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors are frustrated with the snafus.
In their weekly Tuesday, supervisors said soundproofing was not installed properly in some courtrooms in the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center, so jury deliberations can be heard in adjacent hallways.
Last week, while doors were being installed at the LEC, workers tore into the drywall and found that soundproof installation is completely missing in some places.
Mark Nelson, vice-chairperson of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, said the jail contractor will be financially responsible for getting the soundproofing to a high functioning level.
"It just continues to shine a spotlight on the poor workmanship that went on out there," Nelson said.
Due to ongoing mechanical and construction delays, opening the new county jail was delayed by seven months to August 2024. The original estimated cost of the building was $54 million, and it ended up costing $69 million.
The county supervisors have previously discussed the possibility of needing legal representation to process whether the county has experienced a financial hit in revenues for the jail.
*Additionally, two Northwest Iowa school districts will receive special state grants to establish therapeutic classrooms.
This is the fifth year for competitive grants from the Iowa Department of Education to add therapeutic classrooms for learners whose emotional or behavioral needs impact their ability to successfully learn.
The state department on Wednesday announced that $2 million in competitive grants will be going to eight school districts. In Northwest Iowa, those include Cherokee and Spencer.
In a release, Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said, “Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe and healthy learning environments that best support students’ individual cognitive and behavioral needs.”
*In other news, Iowa’s new behavioral health system goes into effect this week.
The new system combines mental health and substance use disorder into seven districts across the state.
Under the previous system, Iowa had 13 mental health and disability services regions as well as 19 integrated provider networks for substance use disorders.
Funding for the system will be through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The districts will each have a local board to offer input on resources. The state has contracted with the Iowa Primary Care Association to oversee them.
Marissa Eyanson is with Iowa HHS. She says the new system removes silos imposed by the old districts, so Iowans can get care wherever they need, regardless of previous boundaries,
Eyanson says Iowans unsure of where to get help should contact Your Life Iowa for guidance.
*Additionally, the boards that oversee South Dakota's 10 public colleges are drafting policies in accordance with a new state law that will allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Starting July 1, the public colleges will no longer be able to restrict the lawful concealed carry of firearms and weapons on campuses.
The Legislature passed the bill, and Governor Larry Rhoden signed it into law on March 31, making South Dakota the 12th state to allow concealed carry on college campuses, according to South Dakota News Watch.
It applies to students 18 and older and staff members who have an enhanced permit, which requires an extra handgun safety course to receive.
*Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is not running for governor but will run for reelection in 2026.
Bird was considered a possible candidate to run in the Republican primary to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds.
In a statement on Wednesday, Bird said she will support whoever wins the GOP nomination for governor.
She says she is seeking a second term because there is more work for her to do in the attorney general’s office and she wants to keep it under Republican control.
Nate Willems, a lawyer and former state representative from Cedar Rapids, is the only Democrat so far to announce a campaign for attorney general.
