Fargo, N.D. – The Cass County Commission and the city of Fargo are apparently at odds over how to extend an existing jail inmate housing contract.
During a County Commission meeting on Wednesday, the panel decided to vote at their next session about implementing a contract termination clause.
Back in 2023, the County Commission attempted to raise jail rates on Fargo from $85 to $120 per inmate received from the city.
The city would pay that fee if the person under arrest in Fargo being transferred to the county jail allegedly broke a city ordinance.
But one of the lingering sticking points to extend the contract with higher fees includes Fargo wanting the county jail to accept a larger amount of an inmate’s personal items for storage.
County Sheriff Jesse Jahner tells Flag Family News the jail simply doesn’t have room to store such personal property.
Also, Jahner says some of the items have been hazardous such as explosives or even guns.
Separately, Jahner says the contract matter with Fargo has nothing to do with county jail capacity, issues that Jahner adds no longer exist.
The county just completed construction on a new jail pod to address previous overcrowding issues.
Flag Family News has also reached out to the city of Fargo for comment and is waiting to hear back.
