Cole County commissioners direct staff to pursue $14 million target for juvenile detention center

Cole County commissioners discussed options to reduce the cost of a planned juvenile detention center and directed staff and consultants to pursue facility design work aimed at a $14,000,000 construction target while continuing value-engineering efforts.

The discussion on new business opened with staff and design-team representatives reviewing three program-driven cost options: an original-build target of about $15.8 million, a partially value-engineered option near $14 million, and a deep-scope reduction option around $12.5 million that would remove significant program elements and administrative space. Commissioners and staff weighed trade-offs including reducing cell count, shrinking day/activity spaces, eliminating the indoor classroom area, and relocating some administrative functions off-site.

Why it matters: The county’s existing juvenile facility is older and described by commissioners and staff as inadequate for current needs. The commission’s choice of a target budget determines which program elements could be included, what will need to be deferred or relocated, and how soon the project can proceed given inflation, material lead times and possible state funding.

Most significant choices and constraints

- Three budget/program options: roughly $15.8 million (full program as…