Grant County Sheriff Unveils Jail Tents

Grant County officials Wednesday proudly unveiled the latest addition to the county jail - three large canvas Army tents erected in the jail yard.

The mood was festive at the morning gathering as Sheriff Bill Wiester showed off the low-budget tent jail, the first of its kind in the state. Local officials, neighbors and reporters were on hand to sample another Wiester brainchild - military surplus food that will be fed to inmates at a cost of six cents a meal.

“God, actually this is pretty good,” said County Commissioner Tim Snead as he munched on the mushy blend of yellowish-orange scrambled eggs, potatoes and sausages with soggy white toast on the side.

The three 15-by-25-foot heavy canvas tents can each hold up to 20 inmates who will sleep on steel bunk beds bolted to a concrete foundation. A second fence will be built around the tents. Overhead netting will be put up to keep passers-by from tossing drugs or booze to inmates, who are expected to move into the tents Monday.

The tents are part of a $1.7 million plan to relieve overcrowding at the county’s regular jail, which was designed to house 107 inmates but currently holds 122. The plan represents a huge savings over other proposals to build a new jail at a cost of up to $18 million.

Besides saving money and relieving overcrowding, Wiester hopes the tents and boot camp food will act as a deterrent to crime.

“Inmates should not be mistreated or abused, but they should not have it easier than our military personnel,” he said.