BUILDING SALE STILL UP IN THE AIR AFTER SIX MONTHS

BENTON -- Six months after offering $120,000 to buy the county health building, Scott County commissioners haven't heard any response.

The health department has plans to build at another site in Benton, but no definite site has been found.

Health Department Director Warren Manning said the matter is still under negotiation.

The commission has already allocated the funds for the purchase, said associate commissioner Joe Spalding.

If the commission purchases the health building, it will be used as a new sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office was built in 1933 as a public works project and was designed to hold 24 prisoners. The current jail population is 40.

"It's a little low because we had court this week," sheriff's deputy Brenda Schiwitz said.

Usually 10 to 12 prisoners are housed in other facilities because there isn't room at the jail, she said.

Under the jail proposal, the sheriff's office would move to the health building across the street. The old office would likely be demolished for more parking or a jail expansion.

In April, voters defeated a quarter-cent tax issue that would have helped fund the $4.3 million jail expansion project.