Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Courthouse Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lincoln County gets update on Justice Center construction; project on schedule, under budget pending final accounting
Summary
County staff and contractors reported the new Lincoln County Justice Center is under construction, on schedule to be enclosed in late summer 2025, and projecting final completion in September 2026; some budget details remain to be finalized.
County project representatives gave the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners a construction update Jan. 14 on the new Lincoln County Justice Center, saying the three-story building is under construction, tracking to schedule and currently under budget though a final under-budget amount was not presented.
TEGRA Group owner’s representative Julie Dodson summarized the project history and timeline: design work began in mid‑2022, bidding occurred in March 2024, the county purchased the current build site in March 2023, and construction began in May 2024. Dodson said the project was initiated after the courts determined the existing courthouse was not meeting needs, including security and building systems issues.
Chris Johnson, project manager for construction manager Henry Carlson, said earthwork and foundations are complete, elevator shafts and precast structural elements are in place and structural steel deliveries have arrived. “We expect the building to be fully enclosed, kind of in that August, September timeframe of this year,” Johnson said, adding elevators will be installed later in the year and the project’s final completion date is scheduled for September 2026. Johnson told the board “Everything's tracking as we anticipated and the schedule is tracking along as well.”
Dodson walked commissioners through the planned layout: the main level will include core courtroom functions, clerk of courts, jury assembly and sheriff facilities with a secure sally port and secure circulation for inmates, attorneys and judges. The second floor will house four courtrooms and flexible multipurpose spaces; the third floor is approximately 50% shell space intended to be built out later for additional courtrooms or the state attorney as demand requires.
When asked whether the project is under budget, project staff said bidding went well and that at the time of the briefing the project was under budget, but they did not provide a finalized savings figure at the meeting. The team offered to present detailed budget numbers to the commission once Henry Carlson completes a current accounting of bid results and change orders.
No formal action was required; commissioners did not vote on the presentation. County staff offered to arrange tours and provide plan documents for commissioners who requested more detail.
