by Dennis Dalman
An ambitious and expensive justice center/jail project for Stearns County is coming into focus as county commissioners, on a 4-1 vote, approved preliminary “schematic” designs for the project.
The designs will be tweaked and presented again to the commissioners this coming April. If the updated designs are then approved, bids will be drawn up.
That action was taken at a work session right after the Jan. 6 Stearns County Board of Commissioners’ first meeting of the new year.
Commissioner Joe Perske voted against the design plans as presented. In doing so, he reiterated what he has said in board meetings of the past: that there is no need for such a large justice center because so many legal proceedings can now (and do) take place via virtual “Zoom” meetings. Thus, Perske asserts, there is no need to build so many courtrooms with a justice center. He also has said there is still space to use within the present (downtown) county facility.
Commissioner Tarryl Clark stressed the importance of keeping the project within budget so it can be paid for through a sales-tax levy rather than a property-tax levy.
“We committed to using no levy dollars for this facility and we must adhere to that,” Clark said. “Delays increase costs and could jeopardize our ability to complete the facility within the sales-tax budget.”
The design approval, at least at this point, would make possible a 510,000 square-foot facility that would have space for 270 jail beds, 11 courtrooms, a law library, a sheriff’s office, a county attorney’s office, emergency management, among other justice-related spaces.
However, commissioners during the March 6 meeting noted some aspects of the process might be delayed or even removed depending upon the final budget estimate and taking into consideration future growth needs.
Commissioners, in a closed session Jan. 6, also pondered buying land along CR Hwy. 75 and CR 134 just west of Waite Park. The two land lots that might be purchased total 78 acres, and 68 of those acres are suitable for putting up buildings and other facilities on them, such as public and employee parking spots and green spaces.
That land is forested and has wetlands, and any buildings would have to meet a 100-foot setback from Hwy. 75.
On Nov. 5, a majority of Stearns County voters approved spending up to $325 million for the justice center/jail facility project, and they also approved a 0.375-percent countywide sales-tax increase to cover the cost of construction. The current total cost estimate for the project is $319,173,445.
Commissioner Jeff Bertram also made many of Perske’s points, but he added he wants to see more information before coming to his own conclusion.
Stearns County Facilities Manager Kevin Korneck told the commissioners approving a schematic design will allow all involved – county and architects – to get a better grasp of costs to help keep the projected construction estimate within budget.
The principal architect hired for the Stearns County Justice Center/Jail project is Jae Choi of the Chicago-based architectural firm of HDR (Henningson, Durham, Richardson).
The following is an excerpt from architect Choi’s profile on the HDR website:
“As design principal of our Chicago studio, he (Jae Choi) leads multidisciplinary teams in crafting unique environments that reflect this philosophy. His ability to challenge conventional boundaries allows him to elevate client expectations, infusing projects with an energetic spirit that transforms spaces into engaging experiences. Jae also serves as civic design director, overseeing the design of many justice projects and ensuring those spaces are as rehabilitative as they are secure.”
The following is an anticipated timeline for construction of the justice center/jail facility.
April 2025: Release the first bid package for construction.
August 2025: Approve bids.
December 2025/January 2026: Release the second bid package for approval.
Spring 2026: Groundbreaking for the facility.
This is an artist’s conception of what the new justice center/jail complex might look like.
Jae Choi is the principal architect hired by Stearns County to work on what will be the new justice center/jail complex in St. Cloud.
