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Several county officials have invested time in trying to discover the source of a carbon monoxide leak that surfaced at the Nowata County Jail one week ago. Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners Doug Sonenberg says crews investigated the possible sources of the leak earlier this week. A small leak was discovered coming from a heating unit in the building. Sonenberg says most potential sources of the problem have been eliminated.

The commissioners will sign an agreement with Washington County this upcoming Monday to house the inmates at the detention center in Bartlesville. That agreement is already in place with all 18 inmates from Nowata being housed in Washington County since the leak was discovered last Thursday. The agreement holds Nowata County liable for the health of their own inmates.

Sonenberg says it is his hope that the jail can be occupied once again. However, Michelle Robinette, an independent consultant stated at Monday’s county commissioners meeting that she believes the current jail could never meet Department of Justice standards. Sonenberg says any solutions going forward will require a joint effort between officials.

Solutions for the jail will be continued topic of discussion in Nowata County. The Board of Commissioners will meet next on March 11 at 9 a.m. at the Nowata County Courthouse Annex.