Stearns County Justice Center Bids Approved; Project Comes in Well Under Budget

(KNSI) – Stearns County commissioners approved the majority of construction contracts for the new Stearns County Justice Center on Tuesday, with the project coming in significantly under budget.

Facilities Manager Kevin Korneck told the board the project is now budgeted at $291 million, down from an estimate of nearly $324 million made during design development in January 2025. Korneck credited strong local contractor participation and clear project drawings for the savings. “We had 225 individual bids submitted for the project across 55 bid scopes, and I can tell you from my experience in construction, that’s very, very strong bidder participation. And with that, we had a really, really good bid day.”

Of the contracts brought before the board, most were awarded to the lowest qualified bidder. A handful required moving to a second or third bidder, and a small number will be rebid entirely due to ambiguity in the drawings or specifications.

Korneck pointed out that roughly 60% of the construction dollars are expected to stay with local firms. “We have great contractors in the area. I’m a Stearns County resident my whole life, and grew up in the construction world. I’m really excited for the team that we put together for this project. We’re going to have great contractors and we’re going to have a great final product.”

Despite the lower-than-expected construction costs, commissioners indicated they are not interested in expanding the scope of the project. The justice center was scaled back in May 2025, reduced by more than 27,000 square feet to approximately 482,000 square feet. An entire floor was cut in that process, bringing the building from five stories to four. The fifth level, while largely vacant initially, would have allowed for future growth of court facilities.

As approved, the justice center will feature a 270-bed jail, 11 courtrooms, and offices for the sheriff and county attorney. It will be located at the intersection of County Road 75 and County Road 134.

The project is being funded through a countywide three-eighths cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2024. It will remain in place for 30 years or until the project is paid off, whichever comes first.
Groundbreaking is expected in mid-to-late May, with construction completion anticipated in spring of 2029.

The building is being designed with a 50-year lifespan in mind.

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