Current Vermillion jail unusable, new jail in works

The jail in Vermillion is on the way out and a new one is on the way in. The Courthouse, Jail and Law Enforcement Facility Planning Committee was organized to assist with the process of developing a new jail. Steven Waller, the chair of the committee in Vermillion, said the current and future situation of the jail is a complex process. 

“It’s a very complex process to build a modern jail. And it’s not just a jail. We’re building the support structure for the jail. Plus, we’re building the new Sheriff’s Office, the new Vermillion Police Department Office and the Emergency Communications Center will be in this location as well,” Waller said. 

Waller, who has served on the Committee since early 2019 and held the position of chair since June 2021, said the new facility’s completion is expected in a few more years, a further date than some may expect. 

“I think right now if we were lucky, and everything fell into place, we probably wouldn’t open the facility until 2025,” Waller said. 

Waller said the initiative to build a new jail stems from what he calls bringing the facility up to speed. 

“It was a jail that was actually built in the early 1900s. And to some extent, it looks like a western movie jail, with iron bars, everything like that,” Waller said. “A couple of newer cells were built on, but with the age of the facility, bringing it up to speed and necessary level of services (requires a new facility).” 

Waller said he and the Clay County Law Enforcement Center Facility Committee are hoping to compromise on a bond that would allow the new jail to begin construction. 

“We are currently investigating and hoping this summer to put forth a bond to the citizens of Clay County that will allow a new jail and law enforcement center to be built,” Waller said. 

As far as the cost and location of the new multi-purpose law-oriented building, Waller said the price is expected to be hefty. 

“We’ll generate, hopefully soon, a cost estimate. We’re expecting it to be $20 to $30 million,” Waller said. 

Waller said he and the rest of the committee are prioritizing the new facility to have the ability and potential for future expansion, something the current structure doesn’t allow for.  

“Well, one thing we’re definitely looking for in a jail is a facility that can be expanded. The current one is built as part of the old courthouse,” Waller said. “It really isn’t available to be expanded or to be built on. So, we are looking for a facility that could be, if necessary, expanded in the future.” 

As this sequence of preparation continues onward, so does the process of moving inmates from the current jail to jails in the surrounding region. Waller said the plan first began last June when the Sheriff of Clay County, Andy Howe, decided he had no choice but to close long-term housing for inmates at the Vermillion jail.  

“It just really reached a head this last June when the sheriff decided that he really had no choice but to close the jail for long-term housing. This means the county is housing inmates in regional jails. I believe we have some in Yankton. I don’t think we have any in Sioux Falls at this time. Most probably are in the Union County (…) jail,” Waller said. 

Waller noted this proposition of moving inmates to regional jail sites is quite pricey.  

“It’s a very expensive proposition,” Waller said. “The county will probably spend $30,000 to $50,000 just this month alone.”