Stearns County Poised to Get Clearer Picture of New Jail and Law Enforcement Center

(KNSI) — Stearns County may soon better understand what a new jail and law enforcement center would look like as it plans to build a new justice center complex, including a jail, courtrooms, and sheriff’s office.

The board of commissioners approved hiring Klein McCarthy & Company Ltd. to develop a preliminary schematic of the proposed new building. Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams explained to KNSI News the county would pay the Minneapolis-based firm $220,000 to start a design. “They approved the contract, but with a caveat that they have a stop point after the first phase.”

That’s because the contract included schematic design on two separate buildings, one on the current footprint in downtown St. Cloud and another at a yet-to-be-determined green space. The board must also decide if it will build a whole new justice center complex with courts and other offices or if it should just build a new jail facility. Williams says the county doesn’t want to carry two designs going forward but explained that information will help commissioners make some of the still lingering decisions, like how much they build and where they build. “Once those decisions are made, then we’ll be able to go down one path or schematic design.”

Finishing the architectural work is estimated to cost between $1.8 million and $2 million. Designs are expected to be ready for review in about six months.

Once a design is selected and construction begins, the facility will cost an estimated $325 million. That money would come from either a 3/8 cent sales tax or property taxes. Voters will decide that in November of 2024.

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