Winnebago County voters easily approve new jail FOREST CITY | It took three tries for voters to approve a new public safety center in Winneb…

He also said the county is losing income by having to pay to house inmates at the Kossuth County Jail, where some Winnebago County inmates are being sent, and the Cerro County Jail.

Hancock and Winnebago counties made an agreement that Hancock County inmates would be housed at the new Winnebago County jail when that facility had adequate staff to accommodate them.

Inmates from Hancock County were moved to the Cerro Gordo County Jail at the end of June, before the new Winnebago County Jail opened.

Hancock County Sheriff Scott Dodd told the Globe Gazette his county only had jail staff on site on weekdays. On evenings and weekends, deputies had to come to the jail and do the booking process themselves for people they arrested.

Housing inmates elsewhere means his deputies can get back in the field faster after they arrest someone, according to Dodd.

He said Winnebago County has been able to accept a few inmates from Hancock County since the new jail opened, but the vast majority are still being housed in Cerro Gordo County.

Peterson said the Winnebago County Jail should be staffed at the level recommended by the state jail inspector in four or five weeks, once the most recently-hired jailer has completed her training.