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Wayne County officials outline staffing, reorganization and maintenance updates at Criminal Justice Complex
Summary
Wayne County facilities leaders reported newly created second shifts for trades, plans to add a CJC operations division, an employee survey, ongoing warranty and acoustic work, a new work-order system and a forthcoming feasibility study for a civil courthouse.
Wayne County facilities officials updated the county commission’s Facilities & Planning Committee on staffing, maintenance and an internal reorganization tied to the Criminal Justice Complex (CJC).
The update, delivered by Greg Hurst, director of facilities management and planning, said trades staff have begun a second shift at the CJC, leadership positions are being filled and the department plans to create a new division — described as “CJC operations” — to focus staff and responsibilities on the complex. "We are happy to report that we're at the point of beginning some of our second shift that that was awarded to us, at the CJC for our trade staff," Hurst told the committee.
The new division would be an internal realignment rather than a large net increase in head count, Hurst said, and officials indicated the reorganization would be brought to the commission for approval. Commissioner Kinloch pressed on timing and whether the change would be in the upcoming budget, asking, "So how soon are you looking to, I guess, bring this online, the, the this division. Are you looking, you know, pre October 1 or, you know, or something that you look like, you're looking to do, like, right now or what?"
Why it matters: committee members said the change could affect budgeting and oversight for a high-profile facility. James Heath, Wayne County corporation counsel, thanked the commission for earlier investments in preventative maintenance and noted how failing to maintain a jail can produce rapid deterioration, citing recent coverage of an unrelated facility. "If you don't make the investments in preventative maintenance, it only takes a few years for a jail to start looking worn," Heath said.
Details and ongoing work: Hurst reported work on multiple fronts: completing onboarding for new trades hires (plumbers were cited as among the first to be fully staffed on the second shift); recruiting for additional trade positions; bringing two facilities managers onboard (one offer pending); and refining a survey of roughly 300 employees about workplace conditions and services. Preliminary survey results will be provided to the committee at a future meeting, Hurst said.
Contract and warranty issues for recent construction remain active. The department is working with the architect and general contractor to resolve warranty items — primarily nonconfinement doors and finishes caused by settling and normal use — while ensuring warranty contractors are held accountable. The committee discussed acoustical improvements intended to provide confidential meeting spaces in courthouse areas; Hurst said that construction is underway in both the courthouse and the adjacent ADF and that the county reports progress regularly to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.
Work-order tracking and reporting: the Facilities & Planning team has implemented Brightly (a facilities maintenance software) to record and track service requests. Committee members asked for dashboard-style reports showing the number and percentage of outstanding requests and completion timelines; staff said they are refining those reports and will provide monthly updates and a biannual report on treatment contracts, with the treatment-contract report expected in July.
Other items noted by staff: the sheriff’s department plans to hold a jailer training graduation on the CJC grounds this summer; the county is negotiating with a vendor for a feasibility study for a proposed new civil courthouse called “C3”; and Russell Street in front of the CJC is being repaved this construction season.
Votes at a glance: The committee adjourned on a voice vote. Commissioner Anderson moved to adjourn; Commissioner Wilson seconded. The chair called for all in favor; members present responded "aye" and the motion carried.
The committee did not take other formal actions on contracts or ordinances during this meeting. Staff said they will return with the proposed reorganization for formal commission consideration and with the requested maintenance and contract reports.
