Commissioners hear urgent needs at juvenile facility; roof and security systems cited
Loading...
Summary
Cowlitz County staff warned the juvenile detention facility requires substantial upgrades including door locks and compressed-air controls, with a localized roof failure prompting a temporary patch; staff estimated $6.5 million budgeted over five years and earlier estimates up to $10 million to fully modernize the facility.
County staff briefed the commissioners on multiple deferred-maintenance items and capital needs at the juvenile detention facility, noting both mechanical and structural problems.
Sean told the group that most of the juvenile request would be capital for IT, but facilities-specific needs include the pneumatic door controls and compressors, and that some lines are leaking. He added the county is "guesstimating half a million dollars plus" for certain immediate upgrades and that the broader five-year plan includes about $6,500,000 for the facility. Earlier, staff had estimated roughly $10,000,000 to bring the facility fully up to standard.
Separately, Weather Guard crews removed ballast rock and inspected a degraded section of roofing above a classroom. Staff said they are considering a localized 20-by-20-foot patch as an interim repair that may keep leaks at bay for a year or two while longer-term options are evaluated.
Why it matters: commissioners noted the juvenile population and usage have declined from earlier decades and discussed regional sharing arrangements with neighboring counties, but staff cautioned that statutory requirements and facility security limit flexibility and that the price tag for full rehabilitation remains substantial.
Next steps: staff said they would continue short-term repairs (roof patch and targeted mechanical fixes), pursue budget options with finance, and pursue regional conversations about shared placements and services. No formal decision was made at the workshop.
