Courtesy Photo Alpena County Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski utilizes the new technology at his desk at the new sheriff’s office and jail. Much of the staff have begun to work at the facility, but it will likely be a few months before inmates and corrections officers make the move.

ALPENA — Alpena County sheriff deputies and other office staff are getting used to their new digs as office operations at the new jail have begun.

However, it could be several months before inmates and corrections officers make the transition to the new facility on M-32, as more corrections officers need to be hired to appropriately staff the new jail.

The new facility opened May 10, according to Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski, and administration, deputies, and animal control services are now offered there.

Kieliszewski said construction is done, but as staff utilizes the new building and new technology, some minor things need tweaking. He said those minor issues will be easily corrected.

The employees are getting comfortable in the new office, Kieliszewski said, which will help them to work more comfortably and efficiently.

“It’s going well and there haven’t been any big issues,” he said. “The deputies seem happy because there is more room with more modern equipment, better connection to the internet and everything is just going really well.”

Kieliszewski said anything road- or law-related will be addressed at the new facility, but anything regarding the jail and inmates will continue to be handled at the old facility on Johnson Street. He said it likely won’t be until the end of summer until jail operations transition to the new jail.

At the onset of the jail project, consultant Rod Miller issued a staffing recommendation that requires 16 corrections officers to adequately staff the new jail.

On Monday, Kieliszewski said he currently has 12 on payroll and is conducting background checks on three more. He said the budget has enough funds to hire one more, which would meet the recommended standard.

Kieliszewski indicated he would request the hiring of two additional corrections officers at Tuesday’s board of commissioner’s meeting, which would push the total number of correction officers to 18.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kieliszewski said a open house was not possible, but now that restrictions are being eased, he hopes to host some type of public tour, so people can see the new facility, which was paid for after the county voters approved a tax for the $11.4 million structure.