When is it too late to correct or at least partially salvage a $100 million mistake for Mower County residents? I am referring to the $30 million jail plus interest and the 16 to 18 additional employees required by the additional space for the next 20 years. According to recent news media reports, Freeborn County is desperately negotiating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in an effort to utilize the empty cells in their new jail, 15 miles away. Their proposal is to rent 80 beds at $77 a bed. This would raise a much needed $2.2 million. Instead of Mower County making the same mistake and ending up competing with them to fill empty jail cells, it would make more sense to negotiate a permanent agreement with Freeborn County to share jail space. If there is a need for short term, temporary holding cells, then locate them in the existing jail space. Relative to the cleared downtown properties, return them to the private sector and the tax base for re-development.

Before our financial hole gets deeper, it is critical that Mower County commissioners come up with a much scaled down project. There have been recent rapid economic changes in local circumstances. We live in outstate Minnesota, which is experiencing declines in populations, property values, tax bases and jobs. Most property owners cannot afford a $100 million mistake.

Peter Grover

Austin