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Prosecutor's office seeks dedicated victims' room; board orders RFP to study renovation
Summary
A prosecutor's office representative asked the Alger County board to reconfigure a planned office build-out to include a separate victims' meeting room and security entry. After technical concerns about ventilation, sprinklers and wiring, the board approved requesting an RFP so contractors can provide cost and code assessments.
A representative of the prosecutor's office told the Alger County board that the planned build-out of the front court offices should include a separate, secure meeting area for victims rather than the door placement shown on preliminary drawings.
The prosecutor's office representative said the requested changes are intended to preserve privacy and staff safety and to provide a statutorily appropriate meeting space. She argued that neighboring counties dedicate space for victims and noted the prosecutor's office brings roughly $20,000 to $30,000 a year in related revenue, which some counties direct back to office needs. "The hardest day of my job is telling somebody I'm not gonna prosecute," the representative said, describing why a private, comfortable meeting room matters for victim notifications.
Board members raised practical concerns about the drawings: the proposed 7-by-17-foot room, the position of thermostats and baseboard heat, the need for sprinkler heads and ventilation, and the expense of moving wiring or structural walls. The chair asked that contractors be asked to provide firm cost estimates and code evaluations before the board commits to construction. "Is the board willing to request an RFP on that?" the chair asked; the motion to request an RFP was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Next steps include a contractor walk-through to verify feasibility and a request for bids; the board directed staff to return with cost and compliance information before any construction contract is awarded.
