Harney County outlines $8M jail renovation with spring 2026 ground-breaking
Loading...
Summary
Sheriff and contractor presented a jail renovation and addition funded by county reserves and a $3 million Oregon Judicial Department grant. Work is scheduled to begin April 29, 2026, with steel erection beginning May 7 and full permits anticipated by June 10, 2026; design changes prioritize safety (reduced anchor points, solid doors, ADA cells).
Sheriff Jenkins and representatives of contractor Kirby Nagelhout updated Harney County Court Feb. 18 on a planned jail renovation and an attached addition designed to address safety and capacity issues.
The court heard a timeline and funding summary: total project funding is "a little over $8,000,000," including roughly $3,000,000 in OJD (Oregon Judicial Department) funding that has usage requirements and a deadline tied to the grant. Contractors presented a tentative schedule that lists ground-breaking on April 29, 2026; foundation work and steel erection beginning May 7; and full building permits on or about June 10, 2026. The county will perform geotechnical borings the week of Feb. 24, 2026.
Scope and safety goals: Sheriff Jenkins said planned renovations replace interior bars with solid doors, upgrade bunks and toilets, add a second ADA cell, create additional holding and intake cells, improve attorney-client visitation and install a sound‑proof video courtroom for remote appearances. The design emphasizes reducing anchor points used in past self-harm incidents and improving visibility via a centralized booking/observation area.
Capacity and staffing: The current jail capacity is 22 beds; the project focuses on safety and classification improvements rather than substantially increasing bed count. Sheriff Jenkins said no immediate additional staffing is projected as a direct result of the renovation.
Budget tracking and next steps: Contractors will supply billing divisions corresponding to different funding sources to ensure OJD and 911 funds are applied to eligible expenses. The court asked for invoices and requested a county-maintained spreadsheet to track pot-by-pot spending; the sheriff agreed to provide invoices as they arrive. Contractors also said they are engaging local subcontractors where feasible and will aim to meet the tight grant deadline tied to OJD funds.
Quotes from the meeting: "The total funding was a little over $8,000,000," Sheriff Jenkins said; contractor Larry Blanton said the design changes were intended to "ring every nickel out of every penny in the budget" while meeting safety requirements.
The court set a schedule for permitting and core sampling and directed staff and the contractor to continue refining design details and funding allocations before construction begins.
