Henry County citizens have the opportunity to vote for a new county jail in today’s special election.

The county seeks to pass a bond of $9.1 million to build a new jail. Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee describes the current jail as deficient, “The last Iowa jail standards that our jail was compliant with was 1981. We’re grandfathered under the 1981 jail standards and we haven’t improved our building since then in structure .”

McNamee says the jail is non-ADA compliant, and lacks space and efficiency. The Henry County Jail hosted tours this summer to show the public its current facilities, and a video tour of the jail can be accessed on Henry County’s website. McNamee tells how this election is important, “The safety factors are the biggest, between the safety factors for the staff of the sheriff’s office, the public safety factors, and inmate safety factors, our current building, it’s not a safe environment.”

Henry County citizens have until 8 p.m. to vote whether to build a new jail.

Henry County Polling Locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

-Four wards and central precinct: Cottrell Gym, 310 E Madison St, Mount Pleasant

– Northeast precinct: City Hall, 112 W Ash St, Winfield

– Northwest precinct: City Hall, 218 W Main St, Wayland

– Southeast precinct: City Community Hall, 106 N Division St, New London

– Southwest precinct: Community Building City Hall, 201 South Main St, Salem