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Winona County votes unanimously to commission law-enforcement-center feasibility study
Summary
The board unanimously approved contracting with Klein McCarthy (scope: two study options and exploring other county functions) to analyze space needs at the law enforcement center and potential shared facilities with the city; commissioners emphasized speed, fiscal restraint, and exploring an option for consolidating additional county services.
Aaron Lafitte, the county's building/fleet superintendent, described a proposed professional-services agreement with Klein McCarthy Architects to conduct a law-enforcement-center space-needs and feasibility study. The contract includes two options: (1) analyze needs if Winona PD remains in place, and (2) analyze needs if Winona PD vacates and the county gains space. Lafitte also said the study could examine leased buildings to evaluate whether county services such as WIC could be consolidated to save costs.
Commissioners pressed for the study to also explore a third scenario — an "option C" — that would identify additional county functions that could be co-located to maximize space and tax savings. One commissioner moved to approve both study options and to ensure the consultant would consider other county functions; the motion was seconded, amended for clarity, and carried unanimously.
The board asked for early meetings between county staff and the architect team to convey operational constraints and to minimize spending on aesthetic upgrades. The study's scope and the consultant contact (Scott Fettig, president) were identified, and staff committed to coordinate early input sessions with the sheriff's office and building superintendent.
