Public comments sought for new Osage County Sheriff’s Office facilities

LYNDON, Kan. (WIBW) - Osage County residents can receive more details on plans for a new sheriff’s office building and jail at public meetings set to start this week.

According to KVOE Radio, the first meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Osage City Community Building, 517 S. 1st St. in Osage City.

KVOE says the Osage County Sheriff’s Office is looking to move from its current jail and law enforcement headquarters in Lyndon to a facility that would include a sheriff’s office, jail, emergency management, emergency operations center and an option for an Emergency Medical Services ambulance bay.

KVOE says plans include increasing the number of jail beds to 70 from the current 37, some of which can’t be used for a variety of reasons.

The new jail would cost $15 million and would be funded by a half-cent sales tax, KVOE says.

A 144-bed jail option would cost around $18 million, KVOE reports. Instead of being funded by a tax increase, it would use income generated from holding inmates for other agencies.

More information is available on the Osage County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.