MADISONVILLE-With no other option, the Monroe County Justice Committee voted to recommend to the County Commission that land on New Highway 68 in Madisonville be purchased for a new jail.

The Tennessee Correctional Institute (TCI) has told the county the old jail on Hicks Street needs to be replaced and if the county doesn't do it, they'll step in, impose a tax and build the jail for the county.

"The TCI put us on a plan of action," Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates said. "And we have to show progress on that plan of action or they'll decertify the jail and take over the building of a new one."

The county is scheduled to present their progress to TCI in March, but even with that taken care of, Yates said it will probably be at least 18 months before anything is done toward starting the new facility.

"The property is on New Highway 68," Yates said, "going toward Tellico past the Isbill Road intersection redlight. It's referred to as the Atkins property and is used as a soybean field. The County Commission is scheduled to vote on buying the property on Feb. 26 and if they vote to approve, we'll start negotiating a price."

See full story in the Sunday, Feb. 17, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.