Stearns County Remodeling Jail to Enhance Efficiency [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- Operation efficiency, enhanced security and better use of space. Those were the reasons behind the Stearns County Jail remodel.

Since the start of the year the Stearns County Jail has been getting a face lift to better house inmates.

Stearns County Jail Captain Mark Maslonkowski says due to recent changes, their 60 bed facility upstairs wasn't being used to its full potential.

"The 60 bed facility wasn't being utilized as well as it could, and at the same time we had a shortage of bed space in our female facility," says Maslonkowski.

When it's finished, the remodel will have a 12 bed Huber facility (for inmates who are on work release) and a 20 bed facility that will be used to house either male or female inmates.

"We are shrinking that Huber bed space down to more of an average population and increasing our female bed capacity," says Maslonkowski.

However the Huber facility renovation is just Phase 1 of their project. Maslonkowski says Phase 2 will be to remodel the booking area.

"We are going to expand and modify our booking area, and that's really where we are going to see our operational efficiencies improve," says Maslonkowski.

The project is part of Stearns County’s capital improvement plan. Total cost for the project is around $5.1-million.

The Sheriffs Department expects the new facility to be in full use by June.