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Jefferson County coroner seeks new facility and space upgrades, estimates multimillion‑dollar cost
Summary
The coroner described cramped workspace, inadequate autopsy and storage capacity, and occupational health concerns; the coroner asked commissioners to include the office in a facilities master‑plan update and flagged a $15 million rough estimate for a modern facility but said specific costs depend on site/lease/renovation choices.
Jefferson County Coroner staff described severe space constraints at the current facility, said staff are sharing desks and equipment and noted plumbing and ventilation problems that affect operations. The coroner requested that commissioners consider the office a priority in the county's facilities master‑plan update and said a new or renovated facility would improve capacity, privacy for family notifications and staff mental‑health protections.
The coroner said the current workspace is small, noisy and lacks private offices for medical staff. "It is very small and does not accommodate what we need," the coroner said, pointing to rising caseloads and the county's position as one of the busiest coroner's offices in the state.
Staff noted three core needs beyond space: secure evidence and records storage, updated autopsy and lab facilities with modern plumbing and air handling, and additional staffing to match caseload growth. The coroner provided a very preliminary figure (approximately $15 million) as an order‑of‑magnitude estimate for a new facility, while acknowledging final costs will depend on site selection and the scope of renovation vs. new construction.
Commissioners said the coroner's request should be considered in the countywide facilities master plan that is being updated; multiple commissioners flagged competing priorities across county departments and noted that a bond or larger capital plan may be needed to address major facility deficits across the county.
Ending: Staff agreed to include the coroner's needs in the master‑plan process and to return with more detailed cost options after site and scope analyses are completed.
