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Commission approves moving forward on new Children's Justice Center building; county parcels and fundraising targeted
Summary
The commission gave staff permission to proceed with plans for a new Children's Justice Center building, with a preferred county parcel adjacent to the Blanding ambulance garage; staff reported a $200,000 state commitment and estimated total costs near $500,000, and commissioners asked staff to pursue grants and in‑kind county support.
San Juan County commissioners voted Aug. 5 to allow staff to move forward with planning and fundraising for a new Children's Justice Center (CJC) building and to pursue a zoning change with Blanding City for a county parcel next to the ambulance garage.
Lede: County staff presented a development plan and initial funding commitments for a standalone CJC facility and asked the commission for authorization to continue site and fundraising work.
Why it matters: A local CJC provides a trauma‑informed setting where child victims of abuse can be interviewed, medically evaluated and connected to services without having to travel long distances. Current facilities are limited and county staff said a dedicated building would improve coordination of services for children and families.
What staff reported: Robert, the county’s CJC lead, said the state has committed $200,000 to the project and the county has preliminary cost estimates of about $500,000 for a purpose‑built facility. He presented two county‑owned parcel options; the commission supported seeking a rezone for a parcel adjacent to the Blanding ambulance garage so the CJC can be sited near health and emergency services.
Robert said: “We have looked at a couple different options…based on costs, based on time, and things like that, I think we’re presenting today to get approval to see if we can move forward with a new build on a new building for the CJC.”
Commission action: The commission approved staff moving forward with the CJC project and gave direction to submit a Blanding City rezone application for the preferred parcel adjacent to the ambulance garage. Commissioners also asked staff to pursue additional grants and philanthropic support and noted that county public‑works teams may provide in‑kind grading and site preparation.
Funding and next steps: Staff reported active outreach to foundations, a possible state‑level 501(c)(3) conduit and local fundraising options. The commission asked staff to return with a more detailed funding plan as bids and potential additional donations are secured.
Ending: Staff will submit the zoning application to Blanding City, continue grant outreach, and refine cost estimates and the build schedule. The county will use a public‑private combination of fund sources and in‑kind county services to limit direct county budget impact.
