Darke Co. Jail awarded $1.8M for capital improvements

GREENVILLE — The Darke County Jail has been awarded more than $1.8 million for improvements to the 39-year-old facility.

The funding was received from the state of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. According to a release, the grant was the result of Senate Bill 310, which allowed money to be released for the Adult Correctional Building Fund.

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Sheriff Mark Whittaker said he submitted a project cost that totaled just over $2 million. He said the Darke County Commissioners will provide $163,000 as matching funds to the state of Ohio grant.

According to Whittaker, the grant will be used to improve the safety of the sheriff’s staff and modernize the 39-year-old jail. He continued and said much of the jail is operating with original 1983 equipment.

The funding will be used to replace or improve all secured doors and the mechanical systems that operate the doors. Whittaker said a new integrated door control, security video and audio communication system will also be replaced.

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