Board approves Klein McCarthy study to evaluate license center and courthouse space options

Commissioners voted to sign a professional services agreement with Klein McCarthy to study options for the Winona County license center and possible reuse of Law Enforcement Center (LEC) space. County staff presented prior work (including material from an October 2023 research file) and said the county lacks in‑house technical expertise to fully evaluate building reuse and colocation scenarios.

Maureen Holti said the study would run the two options outlined in the agreement — a systematic, sequential review of both colocation and separate facility options — and provide the board with actionable information so commissioners can respond to the city's parallel planning. Holti told the board she had spoken with Chad Ubel and that the city will consider a BKV design contract Dec. 1 to explore a police and fire facility tied to a school property, and she said the county should be prepared to evaluate its own use of the LEC space.

Board members asked staff to ensure the study contract includes a right to terminate if the county needs to reclaim the space. The motion approved by the board directed staff to consult with city officials and to come back with findings and recommendations.

Why it matters: commissioners said decisions about the license center and the LEC space could change where services are delivered and affect future capital and operating budgets. Some members also raised concerns about customer convenience, deputized staff at a privatized license center, and potential convenience fees under private operators.

Next steps: staff will return with the Klein McCarthy study results and any modified lease language or exit provisions; the agreement was signed to allow the county to proceed with analysis rather than commit to a specific reuse path.