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Justice building on track for targeted certificate of occupancy in eight weeks, county staff say
Summary
Kootenai County staff told commissioners April 8 that the new justice building is on track for a targeted certificate of occupancy in about eight weeks, but interior door shipment delays and supply-chain issues for blinds could push final completion. Move-in planning and remaining exterior work were discussed; no formal action was taken.
Director Jeff Vohler told the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on April 8 that the county’s new justice building remains on schedule for a targeted certificate of occupancy in about eight weeks, but that an outstanding interior door order and delayed pricing on window blinds present the main risks to finishing on time.
The update, delivered during the board’s public meeting, included progress notes on interior work — flooring and ceiling tiles on lower levels — and exterior site work, including hardscape, landscaping and irrigation tie-ins that county staff expect to continue after certificate-of-occupancy (CO) is achieved. "We have 8 weeks until our targeted date of certificate of occupancy," Vohler said.
Why it matters: the building will house county justice functions and trigger a multi-department move. Vohler said county staff and contractors are coordinating a staged move-in process to support departments transferring furniture, equipment and other items into the facility.
Vohler said furniture orders are confirmed and prepaid, reducing one supply risk, but that some items remain outstanding. He singled out an interior door shipment as the most immediate schedule threat and said pricing for additional interior and exterior blinds is pending because a manufacturer’s estimating backlog tied to tariffs has delayed quotes. "But until we have that product on-site, you know, we can't fully 100% guarantee that," Vohler said of the door delivery timetable.
Other details provided by staff: the county will continue finish work around the building after occupancy to complete exterior items; the irrigation system was being tied in during the week of the meeting; and county staff planned to meet with Walter E. Nelson, the supplier of bathroom dispensers and owner-provided fixtures, to walk the building and confirm installation needs.
Vohler also noted some noncritical items — for example, beam seating outside courtrooms — have not yet been ordered and will be brought to the commissioners with final pricing before purchase. He said county staff are beginning discussions with moving companies to support departmental relocations into the new building.
The commissioners, identified at the meeting as Commissioners Eberlein, Duncan and Metari, asked whether staff thought the targeted CO date was attainable; Vohler said contractor Bowden was "doing everything they can to push" inspections and installations and that the only likely delay would be late shipments of key items.
No formal motion or vote was taken on the item; the presentation was a staff update and planning discussion. County staff will continue tracking outstanding orders and pricing and report back as needed.
