New jail favored for Winona County

Building a new jail for Winona County is now the leading option for correction jail problems in that county.     

Winona Sheriff Ron Ganrude said a plan for a 130-inmate jail will be discussed by the county board next week. 

Winona County is under a state order to improve jail conditions or risk losing its license to run a jail in the fall of 2021. 

The county currently has an agreement to house some inmates in Houston County.    

Ganrude said a study committee thought about going without a jail but, in the long run, that might cost as much as constructing a new jail. 

The current Winona jail is not allowed to hold prisoners longer than 90 days.