Martin County hears design for Holt Correctional mental‑health housing pods; commissioners weigh state funding ask

Martin County commissioners on Tuesday received an eight‑month conceptual design and cost estimate for mental‑health housing pods at the Holt Correctional Facility and directed staff to pursue state appropriations and preparatory work for the county’s legislative delegation.

The sheriff and Securitecture consultant Joseph Morack presented the design, saying the concept groups all special‑needs populations into two adjacent pods that would increase specialized bed capacity and reduce inmate movement for programming. “What we are presenting today is the culmination of an 8 month effort,” Morack said.

The plan called for two pods: phase 1 (Cell Pod 1) with a maximum design capacity of 176 beds and integrated programming and treatment spaces; phase 2 with somewhat smaller blocks and expanded program space. Morack said phase 1’s project total cost is estimated in a low‑to‑high range of $30 million to $36 million and phase 2 at $29 million to $33 million; the…