A groundbreaking for the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center took place Wednesday, September 15th at the construction site on 28th Street on the northside of Sioux City.
Voters approved spending more than $50 million for the project. Officials say the cost rose to $65 million. The county board plans to spend $15.6 million in Federal COVID-19 relief money to cover the shortfall.
That amount is more than ¾ of the aid Woodbury County is expected to receive. Advocates against using the money for the jail made their viewpoint known before Wednesday’s event, with a peaceful protest.
Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer who attended the event caught up with the Chairman of the Woodbury County Supervisors Rocky De Witt about the project, controversy, and his thoughts on the Pandemic.
Former Woodbury County Supervisor Marty Pottebaum told Siouxland Public Media this week he felt the COVID-19 relief money could be put to better use and that some of the board members did not take COVID-19 seriously.
Another person concerned about how the county is using Pandemic funding is David Bushaw, the Regional Organizer for United Today, Stronger Tomorrow, Communities Respond to COVID.
