Strafford County commissioners voted to issue a design‑build request for proposals (RFP) to construct a 10,000‑square‑foot seasonal emergency warming center on county land behind the county jail.

A commissioner presenting the plan described the facility as a single‑story, 10,000‑square‑foot building intended to shelter roughly 100 people during cold‑weather events. “The plan is for is to is to construct a new building somewhere in Stratford County. It's a 10,000 square foot building,” the presenter said. He said mayors and city managers have generally indicated support for constructing a new facility and would negotiate how municipalities share construction and operating costs.

The presenter explained why the county complex behind the jail is under consideration: existing utilities (water, sewer, electricity) are already on site, which could reduce construction and operating costs. He said the current Willow facility is owned by the city of Dover and that Dover would place the building for sale; proceeds from any sale would be directed toward the new facility once the new building is constructed. The commission noted the project would require separate municipal votes to commit funds and a lease between the county and the municipalities for operation and funding oversight.

Commissioners discussed whether the facility would be seasonal or operate year‑round. The municipalities represented by mayors and city managers asked for a seasonal (cold‑weather) shelter only; the presenter said the new building could be constructed so it could be converted to 24/7 use in the future if municipal budgets and welfare departments provided ongoing operating funds. The presenter also noted that the state has recently provided two years of operating funds for similar efforts and that municipalities currently pay for hotel placements and other emergency housing costs.

The motion to put the RFP out on county land for design‑build procurement passed; staff were directed to draft the RFP, prepare a lease form for county review, and return to the commission with cost estimates, site details and any necessary legal and construction reviews. The commission emphasized the need to track soil and site costs, delivery timeline and operating formulas between municipalities. Commissioners also discussed potential alternate uses during non‑winter months, including emergency evacuation staging or temporary storage.