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 eligible for program reimbursements that it currently cannot collect.

Webber said the committee concluded the juvenile center’s first floor has the "correct character" and durability for a PRTF and that moving the nonsecure program to a new, residential‑character building makes financial and programmatic sense. "They almost said they could just move in tomorrow and it would be ready," he said, reporting feedback from the proposed operator, Solutions Behavioral Health.

County staff described program advantages the board heard from state reviewers. Quinn, a state representative on juvenile services (listed in the meeting transcript only by first name), summarized licensing and funding implications: moving the nonsecure program off the same address as a detention facility makes it possible to qualify for Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) reimbursement the county currently loses, "that could be anywhere between $250,000 to $500,000 annually," according to a county official speaking during the meeting.

Design highlights include five housing pods of eight beds each, two smaller four‑bed pods for higher‑need youth, extensive daylighting, and a lobby/reception for family visits. Webber said the exterior will be residential in character—gables, siding and stone—so the center does not appear institutional. "They didn't want to see this as an institution, and have the character of an institution," he said.

Cost and funding: Professional cost estimates prepared for the predesign show a construction and soft‑cost total of about $26.35 million using a 2026 escalation assumption. The estimate includes hard construction, design contingencies, furniture and equipment, commissioning and a $1 million B3 allowance to cover energy‑code and carbon‑neutral mechanical needs such as geothermal systems and stormwater retention measures the project team said will be required by state sustainability standards.

County commissioners and staff said the ask is being framed as a joint state–county project. County officials said some costs currently discussed outside the state capital ask—existing bond obligations and operator grants—are being covered through a combination of contracts and grant dollars Solutions Behavioral Health has pursued. Webber also noted that some grant money for PRTF projects has already been awarded to support remodeling.

What happens next: Webber said the predesign is near final and the committee will provide a final draft for board review before transmittal to the state. Commissioners planning visits to the state capitol were given the current numbers to support legislative conversations.

Ending: County staff asked the board for review time before the final submission; Webber said he would deliver an updated packet and the county will work with its provider and legislative contacts on next steps.