Beltrami County sees steady progress on new jail; demolition plan for the old facility set for spring 2027

Contractors and architects updated the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners on May 31 on two linked projects: construction of a new county jail and the planned demolition and infill of the existing jail once the new facility is occupied.

During a virtual tour of the new site, superintendent Gary Francisco and contractors described recent milestones: cell-access panels and the roof parapet are in place, skylights and security-mesh ceilings are installed in dayrooms, plumbing and waste systems behind cells are accessible for maintenance, and the virtual courtroom and booking areas are taking shape. "The whole building is buttoned up," the superintendent said during the walkthrough.

Carl Clark, a site superintendent from Integrity, highlighted recent work: "We were able... the panels that we left out in order to access cells into the facility. Um, we got those in place now and they're all building is sealed up from a concrete standpoint." Clark also described site work: poured sidewalks, curb work, fencing for mechanical areas and preparations for landscaping.

Project finances and schedule: Cross Anderson representatives said project finances remain healthy with about $1.5 million in contingency still available. "We're still tracking really well," a Cross Anderson representative said. Commissioning has begun and security electronics commissioning is expected in January'February; the presenters said they remain on track to begin turnover by mid-March, with a realistic occupancy goal in March contingent on inspections and seasonal commissioning checks.

Existing jail demolition and sally-port: Architect Austin Dean of Klein McCarthy Architects reviewed the county's selected "option three," which calls for full demolition of the existing Beltrami County Jail back to the annex footprint after the new jail is occupied; the plan includes an attached sally port to the north with tandem transport-box parking and infill of openings in the annex. "This phase of the project... includes a sally port to the north... connecting into the existing tunnel below," Dean said, and he told commissioners design and bid documents are targeted for completion in August with a project update planned for October; demolition and decommissioning of the old jail are scheduled to start in spring 2027.

What commissioners asked and what remains: Commissioners queried access for maintenance above skylights and the lead time for specialty glazing and window frames; presenters said there are no catwalks above skylights and access will be via lifts or access panels, and that major glazing deliveries have multi-week lead times but remain scheduled for late summer.

Next steps: Staff will report back as design documents are finalized and the county will receive a pricing update in October before any demolition contract is executed.