ADAMS COUNTY, Wash. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act on January 8, which could secure funding from the Adams County Jail and help it reopen.
The bills are now headed to the Senate, where it will need to pass before it can be signed into law by President Trump.
Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) representing Eastern Washington voted in support of the bills. Adams County Development Council (ACDC) released a statement in response, thanking the congressman.
“Congressman Baumgartner’s vote today on the three appropriations bills secures infrastructure funding that ACDC has been actively supporting,” ACDC said. “These investments in critical public infrastructure and facilities will directly enable economic development in Adams County.”
The Adams County Jail is still non-operational, as it has been for months. There are issues with the jail’s HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. The cell doors also use an old style of bars, which could allow inmates to reach out and potentially harm staff members.
The Adams County Sheriff and county commissioners told NonStop Local’s Bradley Warren in an interview that they needed roughly $2 million to reopen the jail, but did have some seed money.
The funding, once secured, will allow for the proper upgrades and adjustments to be made to keep the jail safe for all inmates and staff.
