MUSCATINE, Iowa — The U.S. Marshal’s Service plans to house at least 50 more federal inmates in beds at an addition to the Muscatine County Jail that would pay for the expansion, a deputy said Monday.

Jim Parker, a deputy with the Marshal’s Service in Des Moines who deals with detention for the U.S. Southern District in Davenport, answered questions during a meeting of the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors.

“There’s never a written guarantee,” Parker said, but “our intention is to house and our intention is to (partner).”

The Muscatine County Jail has housed federal inmates for the U.S. Marshal’s Service for more than 10 years, with annual revenue between $800,000 and just over $1 million.

Officials have proposed building a 120-bed addition to the jail that would offer 75 more beds for more federal inmates. The revenue from the added prisoners would fund the annual bond payment on the approximately $8 million project.

“If your question is, ‘Do we plan to utilize those beds?’ Absolutely,” Parker said.

The Board tabled a decision on whether to hold a referendum for the bond issue until its meeting Monday, May 11.

Supervisors are not required by law to ask voters’ approval, but “there’s a liability to the taxpayers of over $8 million,” said Supervisor Tom Furlong.

Auditor Leslie Soule said with a referendum 60 percent of voters must approve the $8 million bond issue in a referendum. She said the Board must decide by June 19 in order to hold a vote on Aug. 4.

If the Board proceeds without a referendum, residents can still petition for an election by presenting a petion with 1,912 signatures — 10 percent of residents who voted for president in the last election.

They can present the petition until the Board approves bonding for the funds, which could push the referendum back until the November election.

If the bond issue failed then, the county would have less than one month to put together alternative

plans to hold off closure of the work release center.

About 40 of the 120 added beds would hold inmates from the minimum security annex. The state jail inspector has said he will close the work release center, which does not meet code, if construction plans for an addition are not in place in December.

Supervisor Dave Watkins said he will consider moving forward without a referendum if individuals who would campaign for the bond issue said they are confident of approval from 60 percent of voters.

The Board is also investigating a lease-purchase option with Veterans Plaza Authority, a local commission established to bond for the existing jail. Only 50 percent of voters must approve if the county leases its jail from an authority, Soule said.

The county, however, cannot pursue the authority as an option if a 60-percent referendum fails.

Supervisor Kas Kelly said she feels the Board should act without a referendum.

“We had two (public) meetings and only one person showed up at each meeting,” Kelly said. “I care what they (residents) think, but I don’t think they care because I think they’re getting it that this isn’t going to be out of their pocket.”

But Supervisor Wayne Shoultz said he’s “not in the business of reading minds” and “if it’s such a great project, we ought to be able to sell it.”

Supervisor Tom Furlong said he had been “pretty skeptical” of funding for the proposed expansion, but supported moving forward — with a referendum — after meeting with Parker.

“We have a track record here of at least 11 years working with them,” said Supervisor Esther Dean, who opposed a referendum.

Parker said Muscatine County’s is one of seven jails that house federal inmates for the U.S. Southern District.

He expected the U.S. Marshal’s Service will use only four in about another year, as the number of inmates gradually declines from an eight-year high of 599 in February 2008.

Parker said the Marshal’s Service plans to continue to utilize the Muscatine County Jail, which as of  Monday housed 37 of its 491 inmates.

“Our working relationship with Muscatine County is one of the most cherished relationships we have,” he said.

Parker anticipates retiring in another year, but said, “We do try to stay thinking along the same lines.”

Decisions about where to house inmates, he said, are based on medical care, ability to separate inmates and security issues.

Parker also spoke favorably of steps Muscatine County is taking toward video conference setup, which would reduce travel for court hearings or to meet with attorneys.

As the inmate population tapers, he said the Marshal’s Service will try to house all inmates within the Southern District. The Dubuque County Jail is in the U.S. Northern District, and jails in Rock Island, Knox and Mercer counties are located in Illinois.

The Marshal’s Service also utilizes jails in Washington and Henry counties in Iowa.

“Without sheriff’s offices, the U.S. Marshal’s office can’t perform its mission,” Parker said. “It’s that simple.”