Commission committee recommends proceeding with courthouse and safety-center renovations; contract work to proceed after final review
October 14, 2025 | Clay County, South Dakota
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A committee appointed by the Clay County Commission presented a recommendation to move forward with Phase 2 courthouse and Safety Center renovation work and the commission agreed to allow staff to continue negotiating contract details and to present final contract documents at the next meeting.
The project is divided into courthouse Phase 2 (courtroom and judge office adjustments, juror facilities, ADA improvements) and a single-phase Safety Center renovation (extensive demolition, new office layouts, new restrooms and mechanical/electrical updates). The contractor’s draft scope described interior demolition, metal-stud framing, reconfigured jury areas, added ADA-compliant fixtures, updated mechanical diffusers, relocated fire-alarm devices, new flooring and casework, and installation of courtroom recording and microphone equipment.
The committee reported an overall budget framework: total project budget approximately $1.5 million, with the courthouse portion at about $350,000 and the Safety Center at about $1.15 million; the packet includes roughly $179,000 identified as owner contingency. Committee members said contingencies are intended to cover unknowns in an older building (for example, undocumented walls or unexpected conditions uncovered during demolition).
Commissioners discussed phasing and temporary meeting-location logistics because demolition work is expected to begin in late October and will be loud. Staff recommended shifting commission meetings temporarily to the law-enforcement center training room once demolition begins; the commissioners asked staff to test the room for audio/Zoom capacity before the next meeting.
The commission voted to permit the county administrator to continue engagement with bond counsel/financial advisor and counsel to prepare contract frameworks and to return an engagement letter and final contract for formal action at the next meeting. The commission also received the committee’s recommendation and acknowledged the proposed October 27 anticipated start date for the Safety Center portion.
The commission’s action was procedural: it did not sign the construction contract at this meeting but authorized staff to continue negotiations and prepare final documents for approval at a subsequent meeting.
The project is divided into courthouse Phase 2 (courtroom and judge office adjustments, juror facilities, ADA improvements) and a single-phase Safety Center renovation (extensive demolition, new office layouts, new restrooms and mechanical/electrical updates). The contractor’s draft scope described interior demolition, metal-stud framing, reconfigured jury areas, added ADA-compliant fixtures, updated mechanical diffusers, relocated fire-alarm devices, new flooring and casework, and installation of courtroom recording and microphone equipment.
The committee reported an overall budget framework: total project budget approximately $1.5 million, with the courthouse portion at about $350,000 and the Safety Center at about $1.15 million; the packet includes roughly $179,000 identified as owner contingency. Committee members said contingencies are intended to cover unknowns in an older building (for example, undocumented walls or unexpected conditions uncovered during demolition).
Commissioners discussed phasing and temporary meeting-location logistics because demolition work is expected to begin in late October and will be loud. Staff recommended shifting commission meetings temporarily to the law-enforcement center training room once demolition begins; the commissioners asked staff to test the room for audio/Zoom capacity before the next meeting.
The commission voted to permit the county administrator to continue engagement with bond counsel/financial advisor and counsel to prepare contract frameworks and to return an engagement letter and final contract for formal action at the next meeting. The commission also received the committee’s recommendation and acknowledged the proposed October 27 anticipated start date for the Safety Center portion.
The commission’s action was procedural: it did not sign the construction contract at this meeting but authorized staff to continue negotiations and prepare final documents for approval at a subsequent meeting.
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