El Paso County staff request $4.5M courthouse renovation and $107K garage security contract

Brian Olson, who presented the facilities and strategic infrastructure update to the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, asked the board for two one-time critical-needs allocations: a $4.5 million courthouse renovation to add four new courtrooms, magistrate office space, support staff offices and training rooms; and about $107,000 for a downtown parking-garage security contract.

Olson said the county has been working on a facilities master plan for more than a year, including in-depth interviews with elected offices and departments and building assessments "to transparently report the condition of all of our county buildings" and to help prioritize maintenance. He summarized the renovation request as coming out of a courthouse optimization study completed in the past year and described the garage contract as necessary given increasing downtown events and parking-garage use.

Commissioner Williams praised the study and those who completed it, saying she was "incredibly impressed" and adding that El Paso County is the "fastest growing county in the state," a trend that will increase the need for judges. Commissioner Vandiver called the renovation proposal a more cost-effective alternative to building a large annex or a new courthouse — options she said could cost "tens of millions" — and said the renovation should address near-term needs for roughly five to eight years. Commissioner Gonzales recalled earlier concerns that courthouse needs might run to much larger sums and said the $4.5 million plan compares favorably to those earlier estimates.

Vice Chair Brown framed courtroom capacity and courthouse security as public-safety issues, noting that adequate judicial capacity and secure facilities are integral to the broader public-safety infrastructure. Olson thanked staff members who led the work, specifically naming Sunny and project lead Jill Travis, and said Travis would be part of the construction project team if it is approved.

No formal motion or vote was recorded during the presentation. The chair noted that the county is pursuing options with the state legislature and that courthouse funding is a priority for Colorado Counties, Inc.; staff indicated they would continue to coordinate with the government affairs team on longer-term solutions. The board called for public comment on the item and received none in person or online.