Council favors exploring sheriff/county‑attorney campus as lower‑cost alternative to larger county services building

Staff presented two alternate packages for a new Summit County services building—one priced at about $27.3 million and a larger option at about $35.4 million—and described advantages and tradeoffs for each. During the work session a new proposal emerged to site a secure sheriff/county‑attorney facility on county land behind the justice center and reserve the FJ Gilmore parcel for more public‑facing services such as public health, DMV and convention/meeting space.

Supporters said the campus option could improve security and departmental collaboration while reducing costs and allowing phased delivery. Sheriff and county attorney representatives described security and functional imperatives for separate but adjacent facilities. Council members discussed potential funding approaches (facility bond proceeds, ARPA funding, tourism‑related TRT funding for convention space) and the implications of phasing. Several members urged caution about packing too many different public functions into one building; others argued the campus approach better separates secure public‑safety operations from front‑facing services.

Council directed staff and architects to pursue the sheriff/county‑attorney campus concept, to refine designs and cost estimates, and to return with updated budgets and timelines for council consideration. Staff also noted that phasing could open other funding opportunities and reduce near‑term capital needs.