(Jackson, MN)--Jackson County will hold a public grand opening for its new jail, law enforcement center and government center next Tuesday, October 6th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The new facilities are located adjacent to the Jackson County Courthouse at 405 Fourth Street in Jackson.

Construction of these facilities started in the summer of 2024. The government center is already occupied and providing services. The jail and law enforcement center will open in late October.

The current county jail is fifty years old and has been in violation of numerous state regulations since 2005 due to a wide range of problems such as cells that are too small, lack of medical space and outdated systems. The Minnesota Department of Corrections warned the county that ongoing compliance violations at the jail could eventually lead to its closure.

The new government center will consolidate the county assessor, auditor/treasurer and recorder's office into a shared service division called Property & Public Services. This consolidation aims to enhance service delivery and efficiency. The center will offer services such as veteran services, driver's licensing, passport services and more.