KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO) -- The Kalamazoo County Board has authorized the hire of the first five new employees to staff the Kalamazoo County Jail. 

Sheriff Richard Fuller says they will be civilian operators, who will sit up in the control tower and monitor and open and close doors and generally keep the place operating 24-7, freeing up higher paid corrections officers, who will have actual contact with inmates.  Fuller says the jail can’t open without them. The goal is to have it completely operational by the end of summer.