On the radio at the Bureau County Jail

PRINCETON Construction began Monday to upgrade the radio room in the Bureau County Jail with a $150,000 grant.

Its a great improvement to the jail, said Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed.

Reed said the grant was secured by former Sheriff John Thompson and awarded to Bureau County through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He said Thompson had been working toward this grant throughout the last three years or more.

Bureau County Board Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Kristi Warren said Thompson had orchestrated this grant on his own years ago. The Buildings and Grounds Committee is just now getting involved, she said. The grant will be directed to a total renovation of the Bureau County Jail radio room.

Former Sen. Gary Dahl awarded the grant to Bureau County and some surrounding areas before he left office, said Warren, however, the money is just now coming in. Warren said the money just may not have been available until this point.

Reed said the financial side of the project is an intricate and complex process. However, all radio room renovations will be paid for by the grant.

Thompson had previously authorized around $10,000 to pay for any overages, however, Reed said he is closely monitoring renovations to ensure no taxpayer money will be spent on this project.

We are lucky to have these grants available, said Reed, Until we are able to, we have to do what we can to survive here.

Reed said the department will continually work to make improvements when possible, but they do not have the resources to spend money outside the grant at this point in time.

This is a total overhaul ... It was definitely in (need) for remodeling, it wasnt built right to begin with, said Reed.

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On the radio at the Bureau County Jail