Clay County presents $26.3 million predesign for psychiatric residential treatment and new nonsecure juvenile center

Ryan Webber, architect with Klein McCarthy Architects, told the Clay County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 that the county’s predesign work recommends converting first-floor space at the county juvenile center to a psychiatric residential treatment facility and constructing a new 40-bed nonsecure juvenile center on county land.

The predesign packet requests state capital funding of $26,349,330, including a forecasted escalation if construction begins in 2026. "We're asking for the full amount with escalation included," Webber said during the presentation. He said the nonsecure facility would be about 32,800 square feet with five housing pods, classroom and therapy spaces, and an indoor recreation room.

The nut graf: The predesign pairs two county priorities—adding regionally available PRTF capacity and replacing an outgrown nonsecure juvenile program—so officials say the package could expand local bed capacity while making the county…