Goodhue County keeps $500,000 for detention‑center safety barriers and weighs a $35k–$40k facilities assessment

County staff told the Committee of the Whole that $500,000 is currently included in the 2025 capital plan to begin installing safety barriers at the Adult Detention Center (ADC).

Marty, an ADC staff member, said the county’s 60‑bed unit has been empty since 2020 and that footage of a detainee fight on an upper tier prompted consideration of retrofit barriers. Staff displayed three barrier types — mesh, half‑height acrylic/plexiglass and vertical steel bars — and said vendor quotes are preliminary; Marty said the county prefers a vertical‑bar design and discussed a phased approach (two units per year or one large unit in 2025).

Commissioners raised technical questions about railing spacing, air‑handling impacts and whether the photos shown were of new builds or retrofits. Staff replied that the photos may be distorted and that quoted systems are tied to Department of Corrections (DOC)‑approved standards; they said firms with prior county and DOC retrofit work had provided measurements and initial estimates. The earliest full estimate staff cited was $1,550,000 for all six units from an initial bid, and staff said they would put the work out to competitive bid if the board moves forward.

Separately, staff presented a proposed facilities assessment and master plan from Klein McCarthy Architects to inventory mechanical systems, prioritize projects and produce cost estimates for short‑ and long‑term capital planning across the Law Enforcement Center (LEC), ADC and Justice Center. Staff estimated the base assessment at roughly $35,000–$40,000 for all three facilities, with optional add‑on services (cost estimating ≈ $7,900; juvenile specific consulting ≈ $5,300).

Several commissioners questioned whether the county already has sufficient internal data or past studies to justify hiring outside consultants. Supporters of the master plan said outside firms bring subject‑matter expertise, up‑to‑date cost estimating and a long‑range roadmap that may reduce emergency repairs and allow better budgeting. Commissioners asked staff to refine the scope, provide competing vendor bids and show how the assessment would change capital‑plan entries before approving additional consultant fees.

Next steps: staff said the $500,000 remains in the 2025 capital plan for now, but that further specification and contracting would await final budget approval and additional vendor quotes. The board did not take a formal vote; commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed scope and bid options.