County administrator reports jail construction on schedule and readies fall decisions on existing facility

County Administrator Barry updated commissioners on several administrative items including human-resources recruitment, progress on the new county jail, plans for a video tour at the next work session, next steps for the existing jail, and a small shared storage building project.

Barry said the county completed a second round of human-resources interviews and expects to identify a candidate soon. "We were unsuccessful in the first round... we interviewed three more folks... the hiring committee has... identified a candidate that we'd like to pursue," Barry said.

On the new jail project, Barry said construction remains on schedule and on budget. He reported completed roof work in key building areas, rooftop mechanical units in place, finished concrete floor slabs in Area A and substantial underground conduit installation (reported as about nine miles of conduit). He said utilities are being connected and that a public interior tour scheduled for Oct. 21 was canceled for safety reasons; in its place the county will present a video tour during the regular work session that day.

Barry also said the board will again consider options for the existing jail at the Oct. 21 meeting. He described the board's earlier review and said staff have compiled public comments and internal operational-cost analyses for three scenarios; he noted the timing for any physical changes to the existing facility will depend on the new jail's opening and that major demolition or reconstruction would not likely start until 2027 when the new jail is occupied.

On other facilities, Barry said a shared storage building near the highway department (a coordinated project with the local ski club) is on schedule: hydronic tubing, underground electrical work and a poured slab have been completed and block walls are going up. He said the project remains within budget and should finish before year-end.

Barry asked commissioners for input on the county's 2026 legislative agenda and said staff aim to present a first draft at the Nov. 4 meeting to allow additional time for state representatives to advance priorities.

Commissioners discussed timing and process for decisions about the existing jail; Commissioner Carlson emphasized that the board's sense of direction—if present—would help staff and architects begin design work early next year so bids could be issued in time for construction planning.

"We will plan to present that (video tour) on October 21 at the meeting," Barry said, adding that individual commissioners may arrange separate site visits if they prefer.

No formal board votes were taken during the update.