Stearns County Board Holding Work Session Tuesday to Discuss Updates to New Jail and Justice Center

(KNSI) — The Stearns County Board of Commissioners is holding a work session on Tuesday morning to discuss updates for the new jail and justice center.

Architects and consultants presented a schematic design for the 510,000-square-foot facility, which includes 270 jail beds, 11 courtrooms, a law library, and spaces for the Sheriff’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, Emergency Management, and other justice-related functions. Those plans were approved earlier this month.

The center will be built on a plot of land outside St. Cloud, and price negotiations are still underway.

The work session is set for 9:15 a.m. in the Board Room of the Stearns County Administration building in downtown St. Cloud.

Questions can be directed to the Stearns County Administrator’s Office at 320-656-3601.

The proposed building, estimated to cost $319.7 million, is expected to see reductions to $315.5 million due to rebates and discounts. The design incorporates architectural elements similar to other county buildings, such as a rotunda entrance, a light dome, granite pillars, terrazzo floors, and marble and granite finishes in public areas.

Key features of the design include a single-level jail with tiered housing units and an inmate healthcare area. The Sheriff’s Office will feature public-facing offices and training areas on the first floor, with additional offices on the second. The courts section will span five floors, with courtrooms on each level.

While approving the design, Commissioners emphasized the potential for adjustments to the building’s size or components based on cost considerations.

In November, Stearns County residents approved funding the project through a sales tax capped at $325 million. Commissioners are pushing to keep the project moving as delays result in a higher price tag. Commissioners are committed to avoiding the use of levy dollars for the facility and stressed the importance of adhering to the sales tax budget.

Inflation has already added $9.3 million to estimates over the past year.

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