Fort Dodge- The establishment of a Public Safety Authority for Webster County and the City of Fort Dodge was announced Friday to address long-standing public safety facility needs for the residents in the north central Iowa county. Officials say the need for a modern public safety center has become increasingly urgent. The current Webster County jail, housed in the Law Enforcement Center in Fort Dodge is undersized for the community’s needs affecting the operations on both Webster County and Fort Dodge law enforcement. The current jail has room for approximately 45 inmates and regularly requires 6 to 10 inmates to be housed in other counties. Housing inmates outside Webster County is costly and inefficient with expenses from $60 to $120 per inmate per day. There are also concerns with ongoing safety, accessibility, maintenance and operational services. The Public Safety Authority would give both Webster County and Fort Dodge a practical path forward. A modern public safety center would help improve coordination between law agencies, provide safer and more appropriate spaces and for sensitive situations and support the level of service to residents. There will be more information forthcoming from Webster County and Fort Dodge officials on the project.