After much deliberation, the ballot has been cast: 10-5 in favor of recommending that the Eau Claire County Jail remains downtown. The Special Committee to Resolve Jail Space and Site Needs met last Thursday night to agree on a final recommendation. More than 60 members of the community also attended the meeting, several of which presented cases supporting either the reconsideration of a remote site for the jail or the expansion on downtown property. After public comment, the 15 committee members explained the reasons for their individual votes, finally arriving at their decision early Friday morning. The Special Committee reconvenes April 2 to prepare a report to the Eau Claire County Board. Despite the final recommendation decision, members of Citizens for Accountable Jail Expansion (CAJE) still intend to fight for an off-site location for the jail. Jim Crogteau has been a member of the CAJE since October of 2007. “My passion has grown stronger through this process,” Crogteau said. “I’ve been coming to county meetings for a year and a half and I still believe there is a tremendous opportunity for private money to come in and develop both sides of the river.”