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Commissioners approve of hiring two officers for jail

ALPENA, Mich. — Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved the request to hire two corrections officers in the new jail.

The commissioners voted unanimously to use funds from the Sheriff Department’s budget to cover payment and training of the new employees. Jail officials have not begun hiring yet, and training is at worst a 16-week-period, according to Jail Administrator Scott Gagnon. Training can be shortened if employees come in with prior knowledge or experience of the system.

Construction for the jail is nearly complete, and Administrator Gagnon expressed concern about opening on time to the Finance Committee last week. In order to open in accordance to the schedule, the jail would need to hire and train two corrections officers so the building can be properly staffed. Last week, Gagnon told the commissioners he would need to force overtime on current officers if they could not bring new ones onto the team.

It is not yet known when the jail is expected to open for its first day of operations.