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Commission approves up to $119,000 jail needs assessment to test renovation, outsourcing and alternatives
Summary
The board awarded a professional services agreement to Wold Architects & Engineers to conduct a comprehensive jail needs assessment and alternatives analysis; staff said the study will evaluate renovation costs, outsourcing/contract confinement options, and operational options to relieve a significant general‑fund liability.
The Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a professional services agreement with Wold Architects & Engineers (Wold) to conduct a comprehensive jail needs assessment and alternatives analysis, with a contract not to exceed $119,000.
Staff described the RFP and selection process as lengthy; the firm selected was among the more qualified and competitively priced respondents and has Colorado experience. The study will examine the county’s existing jail infrastructure and operational costs, estimate capital and maintenance liabilities associated with modernizing the jail, and evaluate alternatives that include contracting with neighboring jurisdictions for confinement, consolidating functions regionally, or modifying local operations to reduce the county’s bed‑day liability. Staff stressed the complexity of the issue — interdependencies include the federal marshals contract (the county currently houses federal inmates under contract), court appearance needs and the logistics and cost of prisoner transport if the county modifies its local confinement model.
Why it matters: jail operations are a major general‑fund expense for Clear Creek County. Commissioners and staff said the goal is to gather rigorous, third‑party cost and operational data to support an informed policy choice about whether to repair/replace county facilities or pursue regional/contract alternatives. Staff estimated Wold’s work would be concluded in Q1 to early Q2 and that findings would feed into 2027 budget planning.
Board action: the board unanimously approved the professional services agreement. Commissioners emphasized the need for thorough stakeholder outreach and asked staff to keep the board informed on timelines and to coordinate with the sheriff’s office, courts and regional partners.
Ending: Staff said the study is large and technical but appropriate given the scale of potential capital and operating costs; they will report progress and expect a multi‑month assessment period.
