MARSHALL – Work is underway to demolish the former Calhoun County jail.

Work began about two weeks ago and is expected to be completed by the end of November. Scott said some asbestos has to be removed from the structure.

The jail was built in 1954 and most of the operations, including housing prisoners, was moved to the Calhoun County Correctional Facility at 185 E. Michigan Ave. in 1994. Some offices remained in the building until 2013 when a storm damaged the room.

The $200,000 contract was awarded to the Bierlein Co. of Midland by the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority in conjunction with the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, according to Kelli Scott, county administrator. The project is part of the county’s capital improvement plan.

Scott said the site will become a parking lot, which may be completed this year, but landscaping won’t be finished until next spring.

Source: Trace Christenson, Battle Creek Enquirer