City officials in Oregon last night voted not to close South 6th Street between Washington and Jefferson Streets for a new Ogle County jail.
Even though the vote was 3-2 in favor of the proposal, the issue needed a supermajority of 4 votes to pass.
Oregon Mayor Ken Williams along with Commissioners Terry Schuster and Kurt Wilson voted in favor of closing the street. Commissioners Jim Barnes and Tom Izer voted against the idea.
The county wants to build the estimated 27 million dollar jail west of the Judicial Center along 6th Street in Oregon. They need this portion of the street for a sally port that would connect the jail to the Judicial Center.
Last week, the county board said their plans are still to build the jail at this site in Oregon. County board chairman Kim Gouker of Byron said they may have to change the design of the jail if the street is not closed.
Barnes said during the meeting that the jail should be built off Pines Road and put a courtroom in the facility for the prisoners.
The new jail is expected to handle between 180 to 200 prisoners when completed.
