County orders architectural options study for existing jail as condition assessment continues

Tom (county staff) briefed commissioners on a follow-up design proposal for the existing county jail. The work is the second phase of a building-condition study: staff will combine condition findings with architectural concepts to evaluate three alternatives — rehabilitate and reuse the existing structure, partially demolish and reuse select portions, or fully remove the building and rebuild.

Tom said the building condition assessment (under contract to Kraus Anderson) is underway and will supply information about systems, foundations and structural items that will determine whether reuse options are viable. He said the design-phase work will examine how the facility’s sally port could serve court transfers to the judicial center in any of the three scenarios.

Tom estimated the design-phase contract at about $14,440, and said the money is already set aside in the jail budget. He said the design work will start at a high level (concepts with range estimates) and that the board will be presented options and recommendations, likely in mid-to-late summer, before committing to more detailed design.

Commissioners asked staff to include full life-cycle and maintenance-cost assumptions when evaluating reuse versus demolition so the board can compare total cost of ownership, not just upfront construction cost. Tom said staff will present higher-detail analysis if the board selects a promising alternative.

Tom also provided a brief construction-site update: he said equipment mobilization was visible on the new-jail site and that weather could delay initial activity by a week.