KSHB 41 reporter Marlon Martinez covers Platte and Clay counties in Missouri. Share your story idea with Marlon.
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Platte County leaders are trying to figure out next steps after voters rejected a proposal to build a new jail in the county.
“It was a shock on election night that the voters rejected it by such a wide margin. It is a problem that's been ongoing for years," said Commissioner Joe Vanover.
In 2019, the county failed to pass the first proposal.
In August, voters rejected the proposal once again despite the county spending thousands of dollars on educating the public.
“Any time a big issue like this comes around, the voters need to know what they're voting on," Vanover said. "And that's why we hired an agency to help us educate the voters, to let them know what is on the ballot, what it means, what it would have done, what the situation is. But twice now, the Platte County voters have rejected plans to expand the Platte County Jail.”
The jail, which has room to house 180 inmates, has seen as many as 210 inmates.
Platte County currently depends on nearby county jails to house overflowed inmates, but those counties could soon be running out of space, too.
“We continue to grow as a county. More people are coming here, and, unfortunately, criminals come here also," Vanover said. "And with a jail that's full, overcrowded, the judges are going to start to feel pressure to let people out of jail."
The county is now seeking the public's help once again. Leaders are holding a meeting on Monday, Sept. 30, to hear ideas and plans for the jail.
“We want to hear what the critics say we should have done, and we want to consider that and listen to them," Vanover said. "Anyone in the public can come and tell us what they think we ought to do because it's a problem; it's not going away, it's just gonna get worse."
The meeting is set to start at 9 a.m. It will be held on the second floor of the Administration Building in Platte City.
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