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Riley County approves RFQ for judicial services space‑needs study; commission asks consultants to include site visits
Summary
Commissioners approved a request for qualifications to study courthouse/judicial space needs and potential consolidation, with the RFQ modified to include consultant site visits to comparable facilities and to involve judges and corrections staff in the selection process.
Riley County commissioners on April 24 approved a request for qualifications (RFQ) to hire a consultant to study space needs for judicial services, court functions and related county departments.
Why it matters: The county has aging facilities and an operational need to review courtroom, justice‑sector and related office space. A professional study will inventory current space needs, project future operational demands, produce preliminary programming and schematics, and produce cost estimates to inform a long‑term plan.
John Ellerman, Public Works director, presented the RFQ and the scope he recommends: departmental interviews, an inventory of current facilities, operational and equipment needs, preliminary layouts, cost estimates and options for existing building re‑use. Ellerman said the county will ask consultants to evaluate the church property the county has previously discussed as a potential site and to consider whether consolidating functions would be cost‑effective.
Commissioners asked that the RFQ explicitly require the consultant to include site visits to comparable judicial facilities as part of their evaluation. Ellerman also said he will include Judge Bannister in the consultant selection process and that staff (including corrections and other stakeholders) will participate in interviews.
The commission approved the RFQ as modified and authorized staff to proceed with the consultant selection process and an RFP timeline. Commissioners said they expect follow‑up work to include detailed technology and security planning, and that IT and court staff will be engaged in the study.
