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Clear to partly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Sharon Tucker, whose 6th District covers southeast Fort Wayne, spoke July 19 with a group of others who are against having the new Allen County Jail built in that quadrant of the city.

Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Sharon Tucker, whose 6th District covers southeast Fort Wayne, spoke July 19 with a group of others who are against having the new Allen County Jail built in that quadrant of the city.

When Allen County commissioners announced the location of a new jail last week it didn’t take long for the public and local officials to express their anger and frustration over the choice of location. They were also perturbed that the decision was made without seeking public opinion.

The new jail, estimated to be $350 million, is to be located on county-owned property at Adams Center and Paulding roads. It requires 70 acres, and 200 acres are available at that location.

The commissioners knew a new jail was needed, but it became an urgent issue after a Jan. 2, 2020, lawsuit was filed on behalf of those confined in the Allen County Jail, or who in the future would be incarcerated at the facility at 101 E. Superior St., in downtown Fort Wayne.

On March 31, 2022, a federal judge issued an opinion and order concerning the lawsuit. The judge ordered Allen County to find a short-term solution at the jail and in the long term find permanent solutions. According to the judge’s opinion and order, most of the problems were due to an over-population of inmates at the jail and understaffing of employees.

It was determined that the current jail was not suitable for expansion, so the search for a new property began. Apparently unhappy with their progress, on June 16 the federal courts scolded county officials for not having a specific plan for correcting constitutional deficiencies in the building and gave them 28 days to resubmit a plan.

Southeast residents and some of their elected officials were outraged with the decision. “We have received complaints,” Commissioner Therese Brown said.

Specifically, people didn’t like the proposed jail’s proximity to several schools.

They were also worried about aesthetics, such as fencing and razor wire.

They felt disrespected that the neighborhoods were not consulted in advance, and they worried a jail would have a negative effect on southeast development.

Brown apologized for not meeting with neighbors but said they didn’t have time due to pressure from the court.

They still plan to meet with public officials and the neighborhood residents as well.

“We would like to assure people that the structure to be built will not be an eyesore and it is not a prison. We fear that people are imagining barbed wire and watchtowers, but this will not be the case,” Brown said.

The county also owns about 70 acres at the old Irene Byron site northwest. “We absolutely did consider the former Irene Byron hospital site but concluded it was insufficient because it did not have enough useable acreage,” Brown said. Two wellheads owned by Huntertown are located on the site, so less than 70 acres is available.

Regarding location, Commissioner Richard Beck said, “We’re not a fan of eminent domain, so if someone doesn’t want to sell their property we’re not going to force that sale to take place.”

Several people spoke against the plan to move the jail, saying it was too close to schools, and complaining about a lack of advance notification.

“We want our voices heard,” one said.

The choice of southeast Fort Wayne for Allen County's new jail has residents and leaders there upset, partly because of the number of schools …

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