It was three years ago this month that voters in Dallas County approved the bond referendum to allow the construction of a new law enforcement center, and the project is at long last headed to the finish line.

According to Sid Samuels, President of construction manager the Samuels Group, work is expected to be fully wrapped up by the end of the month. Sheriff Chad Leonard points out that there will still be more logistical work to be done before the facility can be officially opened, but says it’s exciting to be so close to the end. “It’ll take us probably two-three weeks to do training on the facility, you know how to use the facility properly and make sure we know how every system in the building operates. So there’ll be a lot of training for the staff prior to us actually moving in. I would assume it’ll be the end of June, beginning of July before we actually transport inmates into the facility and move our staff. (We’re) looking forward to getting it done, this has been a long three years I think.”

Leonard adds, they will have help from the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement to transition inmates from the existing jail in the most secure fashion possible, which will also allow those officers to learn how to use the facility. To learn more about this and other Dallas County Sheriff’s Office topics, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.