Cowlitz County to seek feasibility study on Hall of Justice upgrade versus replacement; preliminary study cost trimmed to roughly $140,000

Public services staff told county commissioners that a feasibility study for the Hall of Justice — intended to identify costs and options for renovating the existing justice campus versus building new — has been negotiated to a price staff felt acceptable and that the study will be used in funding conversations with federal and other grant sources.

“Today I’m not asking for any approval or recommendation at this time,” Savannah Clement, public services, said, noting the study was provided in draft in September and the district held off while new board members reviewed the material. She said staff had negotiated the consultant price down from higher initial proposals and that the figure under consideration was “in the 140 range.”

Why it matters

The Hall of Justice houses court operations and other county services. Commissioners and staff discussed multiple constraints that could affect the cost and feasibility of renovation: a diking/levee footprint that limits horizontal expansion along the north side of the building; known settling in the basement area owing to historic sawmill fill that may require structural remediation; and an abandoned upper‑floor jail area that would need major rework to reuse. The county has already pursued an energy audit with a separate contractor focused on mechanical and electrical measures, and officials said the feasibility study would address structural, accessibility and full building upgrade options.

Scope and consultants

Clement said the feasibility study would examine alternatives: renovating the existing building to current standards for energy efficiency and accessibility, building a new campus on county land, and leasing and upfitting an off‑site option. She said the study would provide conceptual cost estimates for each option and that the county had asked the consultant to include some plumbing considerations not covered in the energy audit. Staff also noted Collins (an architecture firm) has original plans for the building and that structural and geotechnical issues would be examined.

Funding and timing

Commissioners asked about external funding prospects. Clement said staff has talked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture about rural funding tied to a feasibility study and that USDA tours and guidance had encouraged a feasibility product as a next step; the department does not guarantee funds but typically expects a study as part of an application. Clement said she would follow up with the consultant on a timeline and return with a more specific schedule at a subsequent meeting.

Other cost context from the meeting

Speakers in the meeting referred to prior work on the building’s mechanical systems: an outside unit installed in a recent summer was described during discussion as costing on the order of $900,000 and some referenced ongoing maintenance costs associated with prior upgrades. Those numbers were raised as background during the feasibility discussion but were not presented as part of the formal feasibility price or a final decision point.

Next steps

Clement said the study is intended to inform commissioners and the community and that staff will return to the commission with a timeline, any necessary scope clarifications and with the consultant’s deliverables. She emphasized no formal decision would be sought immediately and that the study results would inform later policy and funding choices, including potential USDA grant applications.