Commission approves 36‑month lease to expand public defender offices

The Minnehaha County Commission voted July 15 to authorize the chair to sign a 36‑month lease to provide additional office space for the public defender’s office.

Tracy Smith of the public defender’s office told commissioners the office has outgrown current space in the annex building and that the proposed lease in the 300 Building would provide seven offices and two reception areas. Smith said staff researched renovation and other options before settling on the lease as the most efficient short-term approach while the county completes a campus master plan. "We felt that this was the most efficient and cost effective option at this point," Smith said.

Smith said furniture for the new space was obtained at no cost, networking installation was estimated at $378 per month for 36 months, and the lease terms include a $3,100 deposit and $3,100 monthly rent; those figures have been included in preliminary 2026 budget requests. The space is intended to reduce reliance on private conflict counsel and to allow the office to potentially add a third conflict office in the future as caseloads grow.

Commissioners discussed the request and the office’s staffing needs; Smith said seven attorneys would ultimately be housed there, with an immediate need for two by Aug. 1. Several commissioners described the lease as a short-term fix that provides necessary runway while the county completes longer-term planning.

The motion to approve the lease was made, seconded and approved by roll-call vote. The commission instructed staff to include the lease costs and related networking and furniture expenses when they return next week to file a provisional budget with the auditor’s office.