Lee County finds temporary use for old jail

DIXON – Lee County found a temporary use for the old jail building while waiting for a grant to tear it down.

The Lee County Board recently agreed to allow staff from the Whiteside County Health Department to use part of the facility at 122 W. Third St. to help community members recovering from substance abuse.

Sheriff John Simonton said about 30% to 35% of Lee County substance abuse patients go to Whiteside County for services such as counseling and medication-assisted treatment, and they were hoping to find a place in Dixon to serve those patients.

Staff would use the lobby and lieutenant’s and sheriff’s offices 2 days a week, he said.

They still have to iron out a few details, including a memorandum of understanding stating that the agreement would end if the county receives a state grant to demolish the jail.

Initially, the county submitted an application for a $5 million state grant to demolish the old jail and construct a new building for emergency operations, a few cells for inmates awaiting court and parking space, but the program was flooded with applications and the county didn’t think the grant was promising.

The county then pursued a state shovel-ready project grant that would cover demolition and a concrete retaining wall for about $1 million or $1.25 million, with a 25% local commitment of around $250,000 if successful.

Demolishing the half-century-old jail has been a goal for years, and the county focused on building the new Lee County Law Enforcement Center at 240 E. Progress Drive.

The old building has several issues and failed to meet state jail standards for many years. There’s also a structural issue with one of the walls, and the building is slowing sinking.

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers joined Sauk Valley Media in 2016 covering local government in Dixon and Lee County.