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.
City Administrator Michael Redlinger issued a statement to Flag Family News:
“The City of Fargo is continuing to work with Cass County Government on jail contract negotiations. Inmate property storage has been a discussion point in these conversations, as well as employee health and safety issues for Fargo Police Department staff operating within the jail. The City is agreeable to the proposed rate and desires to work toward a collaborative resolution of these matters.”
