GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- More than 600 vents in cells at the Genesee County Jail have been targeted for removal -- a wholesale replacement officials say is needed to limit attempted suicides and the county’s liability for them.

“We have been warned by legal counsel that there are times when we know of things that need to be fixed -- related to the jail in particular,” said county Commissioner Dale Weighill, D-Flint Township. “If we do not act on that, we could be in grave legal jeopardy in terms of lawsuits, litigation and a finding by a court where we have to (pay) millions of dollars.”

A committee of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners gave initial approval to spending $389,728 to remove and replace the cell vents during a committee meeting on Wednesday, May 21, and could green-ligh

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