At a recent Carroll City Council meeting, Adam Schweers, representing the Committee for a Responsible Jail Location, spoke about their concerns with the planned placement of a new Carroll County Jail. He said there are a myriad of reasons people may be for or against the $8.95 million proposal to be put before the county residents for a vote on the Nov. 6 mid-term general election ballot.
He wanted to assure the council that the group was not against a new county jail and that they understand the current structure meets zero of the minimum operating requirements.
Schweers pointed to his own personal interests in the placement of the three-story structure in the west parking lot of the courthouse.
Schweers has also entered into a business venture with Chad Kanne and Matt Wendl to rehabilitate the three-story former Morrison Apartment building on the north side of the courthouse. The August 2017 referendum vote for an expansion of the current public library was another talking point for Schweers. The Farner Government Building was completed in 1975 and moved the library from the north side of the courthouse and existing jail to the south side, across a courtyard. Now that there has finally been approval for an upgrade to that space, the committee does not feel the library should be located in close proximity to the jail and believes the design will detract from the library’s new frontage. He also cited other downtown construction projects and renovations to existing businesses that have been completed as a part of, what he calls, a revitalization of downtown. Schweers said the reason they were at the meeting was to make sure that the City of Carroll and the council members voice their opinion on the matter. He said each one of them represents a ward of Carroll, and as citizens, they don’t want to see this built. At the conclusion of the presentation, Schweers made a point to ask for something from the council.
There was no comment from any members of the council.
