Public Works committee recommends creating a county facilities committee focused on jail and long‑term capital planning

Committee members recommended creating a county facilities (buildings) committee to prioritize and plan capital work across Richland County’s buildings, with a particular emphasis on the jail.

Multiple supervisors said the jail presented the most urgent and complex needs: inspection findings noted safety and space deficiencies and suggested some remediation could cost in the hundreds of thousands while a full replacement would be multimillion dollar work. Committee members recommended inviting the jail inspector, the Department of Corrections representative, finance staff and department heads to brief the new committee and to provide the data needed for a capital improvement plan.

Speakers debated whether the work should remain within the Public Works Committee or be handled by a focused ad hoc or standing committee with clearly defined duties and membership. The committee chair moved and members approved a recommendation to the full county board to create a county facilities committee. Staff were directed to assemble background materials (inspection reports, CIP estimates and vendor reports) and to present a proposed charter and timeline to guide the committee’s work.

Members noted the importance of realistic budgeting, the county’s limited revenues, and the value of a short‑term plan for interim remediation alongside long‑range planning.