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Commissioners approve feasibility study to examine expansion or reconfiguration of law‑enforcement center
Summary
The board approved a professional‑services feasibility study to examine whether the Clay County Law Enforcement Center can be expanded to meet Moorhead Police Department needs or whether county departments should be reallocated; commissioners flagged possible bond and contract implications if the city reduces its partnership.
County administrator Steve Larson asked the Clay County Board of Commissioners on May 5 to authorize a feasibility study to examine options for the Clay County Law Enforcement Center after the Moorhead Police Department notified the county of expanded space needs.
"This building was originally constructed with the ability to expand to the north ... roughly 15,000 square feet," Larson said, describing the facility's design and the study's purpose: to hear Moorhead Police Department needs and evaluate whether a northern expansion or internal reconfiguration would work.
Commissioner Ebinger said the prospect was "a disappointment" and urged careful review of debt and contract implications, reminding the board that the county assumed much of the facility's debt when the partnership began. "If we are going to sever the partnership before the termination of this current agreement, I want to make sure we're made whole," Ebinger said.
Commissioner Campbell said law‑enforcement stakeholders must be involved in planning and raised concerns about how any change could affect the facility's existing bonding and the contract with the city of Moorhead.
The board voted to approve the feasibility study; administrator Larson said the county would cover the $10,000 local share from reserves. The study is limited to planning and will not include detailed construction costing at this phase; commissioners said further analysis of financial and contractual implications would be required before any substantive action.
No changes to the current facility footprint, staffing or intergovernmental contracts were approved at the meeting; the vote authorized only the planning study.
