The commissioners received authority to build a new county jail under the same legislative enactments that gave such authority in regard to the construction of a new court house. Architect Maetzel, of the court house then under way of construction, presented plans to the building committee for a new county jail on September 22, 1890, and for a sheriff's residence in connection with the jail, at an estimated cost of about forty thousand dollars including steam heat. After a few minor changes from the original idea these plans were accepted by that committee on October 14. The plans called for a neat two-story brick of modern style. The jail proper contained sixteen cells—eight on each of the two stories. The front of the building was to be used as the Sheriff's residence, having six living rooms and three cells for females.
Bids for the construction of the jail were received and opened on December 18, 1890, and, although James Self, of London, was the lowest bidder, at thirty-five thousand dollars, the contract was awarded to G. W. Doerzback, of Sandusky, for thirty-five thousand eight hundred and eighty dollars. The matter was brought into court and in February the specifications were ordered changed and the contract set aside. Bids were again received and opened on July 9, 1891, but were so suggestively close together that the commissioners made no awards and ordered the auditor again to advertise for bids. The third set of bids was opened on August 10, 1891, and the contract was let to D. W. McGrath, a prominent young contractor of Columbus, Ohio, for twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and eighty-five dollars. The plumbing was done by the Sanitary Plumbing Company of Columbus. The plans and specifications were made by Joseph Dauben, of Columbus, for which he received one hundred and fifty dollars. The building was accepted at the same time as was the court house, as stated above.