Two years after voters approved funding for the project, the new Marion County Law Enforcement Center in Yellville will officially open Friday afternoon. The current jail has only 20 beds and was going to be closed after the State Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee in 2015 pointed out a number of “serious and critical” problems associated with the current jail’s crumbling infrastructure. The committee noted at one point inmates were not separated properly and the facility lacked fire and emergency response equipment.
Voters approved a 1/4 cent sales tax in March of 2016 to fund operations of a new jail but rejected a 3/4 cent sales tax to build a new 94-bed facility. The county re-worked it proposal, and it was passed in November 2016. The 1/2 cent sales tax voters approved was for the construction and equipping of a new facility to house the county jail with 62 beds, administrative offices of the sheriff’s department and a communications center. An added pod will hold an additional 30 beds and will also be used as a training room.
The new detention center in Yellville will have extra bed space for holding state inmates, which the county may seek reimbursement at a rate of $30 per day. The new jail also means an additional 10 to 15 employees will be hired.
Marion County Judge Terry Ott says an open house and dedication ceremony for the new Marion County Law Enforcement Center will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00. The facility is located at 221 Randolph Road, which is off State Highway 202 west of Yellville.
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