FARGO, ND – The Fargo City Commission has agreed to a contract with Cass County for the purposes of housing inmates in the Cass County Jail.
Changes to the contract
The new contract, which begins January 1, will increase the daily cost for inmates to $120, an increase to the current rate, which is $85.
“This will be a three-year term,” City Administrator Michael Redlinger said. “There are some assurances that have been made by the Cass County Sheriff about the protection, health, safety of our officers as they’re operating within their facility.”
Among the changes include a panic button that will be provided to Fargo Police Department staff as they’re moving inmates about the facility as well as a radio.
Property maintenance
One of the hot topics has been regarding property maintenance of those who come into the Cass County Jail via arrest by the Fargo Police Department. Redlinger said that the city and county have had ‘a pretty lengthy discussion’ about property maintenance. He said the city has ‘worked with the county on some better understandings of how they’re going to manage that property.’ The city, state’s attorney, city attorney and others are going to ‘continue the conversation about property long-term.’ The topics will include how property is managed and what is allowed into the jail.
“The 2025 property policy is much more aligned with the city’s interest than the 2023 policy was when these discussions were commenced,” City Attorney Nancy Morris told the board.
