Dodge County Seeks Alternative Jail for Detainees After Olmsted County Board Approves Price Hike

Mantorville, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a new facility to house their detainees. 

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That’s according to a letter from Sheriff Scott Rose to the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners. Rose posted the letter on the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page.

Dodge County does not have a jail and pays Olmsted County a daily per diem fee to house its detainees. 

Olmsted County Board Votes to Raise Daily Fee Charged to Dodge County to House Detainees

On Tuesday the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 to increase the per diem fee Dodge County pays to house detainees at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center from $75 per day to $323 per day. 

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The minutes from the Olmsted County meeting indicate the $323 daily fee was calculated by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. It’s estimated that the Olmsted County Jail houses 23-28 Dodge County detainees per month.

An amended motion to raise the daily fee to $100, which Rose described as a number he and Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson believed would win approval from the elected leaders, was rejected. 

Commissioners Mark Thein, Gregg Wright, Laurel Podulke-Smith and Michelle Rossman approved the price hike, saying Olmsted County taxpayers should not subsidize detention costs for other counties. 

Commissioners David Senjem, Bob Hopkins and Brian Mueller opposed the fee increase. 

Dodge County Sheriff's Office Looking for Different Facilities

Rose, who praised the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and said he appreciated the partnership they’ve shared, said the agreement has “provided operational efficiencies for both counties.” 

Rose also said the $100 per day agreement would’ve generated up to $300,000 in revenue for Olmsted County and that the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has “utilized existing bed space without requiring additional staffing or expanded facility capacity.” 

Rose said he has been in contact with other neighboring counties who have “advised they currently have available bed space and would welcome the opportunity to provide detention services for Dodge County.”