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Commissioners review Elevatus plan for 212‑bed facility with 32 mental‑health beds; agree to coordinate testimony on HB1213
Summary
Sheriff Ruhl and Elevatus representatives presented a plan for a 212‑bed correctional facility (32 mental‑health beds). The county reported current jail operating costs of nearly $749,000 in 2024 and projected the new facility could net roughly $2.4 million annually; the Board agreed to join other counties in Bismarck to testify on HB1213.
Sheriff Ruhl presented a proposal from Elevatus for a new correctional facility and said Elevatus "has drawn up plans for a 212-bed facility with 32 of those beds designated for mental health." Elevatus representatives in attendance included Dave Sholl, Paul Laney, Dr. Deanna Dwenger and Dillon Redding.
Steve Gjerdevig reported operational figures for the county jail: "the current jail cost almost $749,000 to operate in 2024; projections for the new jail would net approximately 2.4 million annually." Commissioners discussed funding models, referencing Cass County's use of a half-cent sales tax and Walsh County's proposed combination of sales and property tax. Representative Cindy Schreiber-Beck said HB1213 has moved to the Senate and that the $200,000,000 figure could be amended back into the bill.
Commissioner Rollie Ehlert emphasized the 15% mental-health allocation and its alignment with gubernatorial priorities. The Board reached consensus to coordinate testimony in Bismarck with five counties in support of HB1213 and directed Administrator Fossum to prepare revenue projections for one- and two-cent sales tax scenarios over a 30-year horizon to inform bonding and funding options.
"It was the consensus of the Board of Commissioners that the best approach would be to go to Bismarck with all five counties, to testify at the legislature regarding the importance of HB1213," the record states.
Elevatus indicated it would finalize a business plan and invoice for phase I to move the project forward if funding permits.
