Lake City Inn is two steps away from becoming the new home to the Kosciusko County work release program.

Friday, County Administrator Ron Robinson said the purchase of the Inn is moving forward after negotiations with the property owners. If approved, the county will pay $2.2 million for the facility.

Lake City Inn is located off Center Street near the intersection of U.S. 30.

A special county council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Kosciusko County courthouse to discuss additional appropriations for the purchase, Robinson said. If the council approves the appropriations, the county commissioners will discuss the actual purchase at their 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday at the courthouse.

The facility also would temporarily house offices displaced by the county jail expansion project.

Work release currently has 36 inmates. Lake City Inn has the potential to house 240 inmates, but Robinson said he does not expect the work release program to expand too much for a while.

No new employees are expected for the new work release facilities, but, Robinson said, as the number of work release inmates increases, there is the potential for new positions.

He said the county has not received any feedback from county residents on the Lake City Inn purchase or letters to the editor in local newspapers. He said the reason may be because residents understand the need for the facility.

"In talking to service organizations, once you explain the cost savings ... they understand," he said.

If the county were to include the work release program in the jail expansion project, it would cost the county $120 per square foot. By purchasing Lake City Inn, the county will save an average of $40 per square foot, Robinson said. [[In-content Ad]]