New Beltrami County jail project ahead of schedule, officials say; minor schedule shifts for cell installation

Beltrami County officials on Tuesday said construction of the county's new jail is progressing and remains on or slightly ahead of schedule, with minor adjustments to the detention-cell installation timeline.

During a project update and virtual site tour, contractors and county project staff showed drone and walk‑through video of progress at the site and described recent work: most precast wall panels and roof planks are set, crews are installing vapor barriers and roof insulation, and crews have routed extensive conduit for security and electrical systems.

Why it matters: County leaders said keeping the building weatherproofed before winter is a priority to protect the schedule and reduce expensive rework. Contractors also noted that moving more services under slabs now will reduce overhead work later.

What was said: Steve (project staff) and Gary Francisco of Integrity Group led a video tour recorded Oct. 7. Francisco described the building elements and sequencing, calling attention to double‑tier cell bays, the control/security room and a generator pad. "Basically, at each 1 of these bays was a little over 2 miles of underground conduit...we've got probably 13 miles of conduit in the ground right now," Francisco said during the walkthrough.

Schedule and next steps: Detention‑cell subcontractors were asked to shift their start by roughly a month to allow more rough‑in work under slabs; officials now expect cell work to begin in early December, pause briefly, and resume in early January. County and contractor representatives said they will continue regular coordination and provide weekly photo updates. "We're starting to temp the close now and start putting some heat inside the building to keep going with the interior fit up," a project presenter said.

Budget and risks: Project leaders said the financial picture remains healthy. At the last update the project had processed one change order and was completing a second; contingency dollars remain available. "Our remaining yellow box contingency dollars are still sitting very good," the presenter said. County staff reported no immediate cost overruns and described close monitoring of change orders.

Regulatory coordination: Commissioners asked whether the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) has reviewed plans; county staff and contractors said DOC has reviewed design plans and will conduct closer reviews as installation approaches. "Austin's team still reaches out and has contact with them if there's any kind of ... plan revision that may affect the detention systems," a county official said.

No formal action was taken; the board thanked project staff and contractors for the update and accepted continued reporting.