Sheriff frustrated with Fargo over contract to hold inmates in Cass County Jail

FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) — Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner continues to express frustration with the City of Fargo over a new contract to hold jail inmates arrested by Fargo police.

For two years, Jahner says he’s been working to increase the daily rate to house prisoners from $85 a day to $120. Jahner says West Fargo has agreed to the higher rate.

“If we do not have a contract in place with the City of West Fargo, or Fargo or local partners, we cannot enter into a new agreement with our federal partners. Well, we can, but it’s gonna be at a lower rate because our federal partners when we house federal inmates at the county jail, they look at our current contracts and what our current cities are paying us, and that’s what they pay us.” Jahner said.

Jahner said Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski has also insisted that the jail stores property taken during arrests in the city. He said he doesn’t have space for the property or the staff to keep track of it.

“We’ve had them bring in TV’s to us, we’ve had them bring in a dresser with clothes in it. Now when extra property is brought like that things get missed on searches. We’ve had two loaded handguns brought to the Cass County Jail, and we’ve had an explosive device brought to the jail that we actually had to have the bomb team come out and disrupt.” Jahner said.

Fargo City Administrator Michael Redlinger said Fargo is continuing to work with county government on a jail contract. He said Fargo will accept the new inmate-rate and will work toward a collaborative resolution of other matters including inmate property storage.

The new $31 million addition to the Cass County Jail includes 192 new beds and created 29 jobs.