by Tony Gonzalez
October 20, 2009 11:20 AM
In an interesting tale of good triumphing over evil, drug dealers’ illegal monetary gains could very well be used for funding the building of a storage facility for law enforcement.
According to an October 20 posting on southwestiowanews.com, (an online edition of Council Bluffs, Iowa Daily Nonpareil newspaper), Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker proposed just that to the Board of Supervisors yesterday (Monday), October 19.
Sheriff Danker said bids would soon be solicited for a 50 x 100-foot metal pole building, and his hope is that this proposed garage be funded using the spoils gained at a drug stop.
"We need more space; we have trailers outside that we would like covered," Danker explained to the board Monday.
In addition, a brand new 400-kilowatt Caterpillar portable generator approved for purchase by the board in July arrived last week; it will be stored at the sheriff’s office. The generator was purchased to supply power to the Pottawattamie County Courthouse and/or the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and Jail in the event of an emergency.
Danker stated that the new storage facility would be built parallel to Joslin Road, and directly behind the sheriff’s existing garage. He also said the new facility would have four overhead doors.
"Cost-wise, I will not know until we receive (and review) all the bids," he said.
A Pottawattamie County deputy seized $120,000 in a drug stop, and, according to Sheriff Danker, it appears the money will be forfeited.
"Some of the money will go to the state and the county attorney’s office, but I will utilize what I can of the money to put toward the shed," Danker said.
Pottawattamie County is the second largest county in Iowa. The county takes its name from the
Potawatomi Native American tribe.