Hunter
09/24/26
Johnson County officials and residents attended a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County and the Iowa City Public Library at the library’s meeting room Wednesday. They discussed the bond referendum for a new county jail and sheriff’s office.
Iowa Media Wire reports about 150 residents and local government leaders were on hand, featuring presentations from Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith.
A $94.5 million bond referendum for a new jail and sheriff’s office is up for a vote this November. It requires 60 percent public support to pass.
Iowa Media Wire reports Sheriff Kunkel discussed how the jail funds would be allocated, and said because local government relies on citizens’ taxes, the referendum must be held to raise enough funds for the new jail. He also explained in a subsequent Q&A session that the new jail will not house more ICE detainees, and the only reason they would ever house an ICE detainee would be if they had a local charge.
County Attorney Zimmerman-Smith added that no one is brought into the Johnson County Jail on immigration charges, and said county officials are looking out for immigrants, as they are very vulnerable at this time.
The sheriff explained that the cost not only includes the construction of the building, but the furnishings inside, adding that jail cells must be planned and constructed according to regulated minimum square footage.
Members of the audience questioned the cost of the new jail and wondered why renovating the current site wouldn’t make better financial sense. Some also decried the perceived lack of transparency about the new jail.
Johnson County Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass was in attendance to hear questions the public had about the project. She stressed that the county is actively working to keep people out of jail, and the project has nothing to do with incarcerating more individuals. She said there’s a lot of misinformation floating around.
Another public forum on the subject is scheduled for October 6th at the HyVee Center at Centennial Park in North Liberty starting at 6pm. It was moved from the city’s Community Center to provide additional space for attendees.