Freeborn County inmates will soon have some fun in the sun.

The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a proposal Tuesday to construct an outdoor recreation area for inmates.

The recreation area will be located where the current loading dock is, behind fencing on the southeast side of the building. It will be visible from the street but supervised.

Freeborn County Sheriff Bob Kindler said the project will need window guards, security camera upgrades and upgrades to fencing — including razor wire.

During the meeting Tuesday, the commissioners approved a quote from its only bidder, Century Fence Co., to provide the fencing for about $23,000.

Kindler estimated the cost for window guards at about $2,700, the camera system at $5,000, and incidental costs at roughly $1,000.

No new employees would have to be hired to operate the space. The upgrades could be paid through vending machine profits.

Kindler and officials hope the new recreation area may lead to housing additional detainees.

Freeborn County is paid $77 a day from the federal government per detainee. The costs of the recreation area improvements could quickly be covered under this payout, he said.

In a previous interview, Kindler noted that each year the county has contracted with ICE to house federal detainees at the jail, it has received a deficiency during the jail inspection for not having a recreational area.

Outdoor recreation isn’t required at jails. Mower County inmates do not have any outdoor recreation time.