Justice center, jail now expected to cost $25 million

After numerous discussions with the architects, the Waseca County Board of Commissioners approved moving work on the new county jail and justice center into the “schematic design” phase during their Sept. 2 meeting.

 

With a target construction price of about $25 million, three stories and anticipated exterior dimensions of about 125 feet on a side, the structure will include a “class one” jail–one rated by the Department of Corrections to keep inmates for no more than 72 consecutive hours. The structure will house four county departments: the sheriff, county attorney, community corrections and emergency management, as well as a new district courtroom and the four people who staff it. A new secure entry will include scanning equipment both for people and their belongings.

 

The structure will be located west of the historic courthouse in what is now a parking area; the current law enforcement center will eventually be razed and replaced with parking. The public entry will be on the south side.

 

According to information shared during the meeting by Dana Hlebichuk, architect and vice president with Widseth design in Mankato, a preliminary concept for the structure was pared down based on discussions over the past three weeks, reducing its planned “footprint” by almost 4,000 square feet and bringing expected costs for its construction down from a figure of $42 million broached more than a year ago.

 

Hlebichuk predicted preliminary bids could be sought next June and September, with “mobilization on site” beginning in August, and with a plan to have the exterior of the building in place before winter, so that work could continue through the coldest months. He anticipated the building could be occupied beginning in the early summer of 2027.

 

Commissioners expressed enthusiasm that, after more than two years of research and discovery, all the pieces are in place to move forward. The building currently housing Waseca County’s jail and law enforcement center is the oldest one of its type still in use in the state, and the Department of Corrections has threatened to downgrade or close it numerous times for various structural and procedural reasons. Conversations to replace it have begun a number of times beginning in 2003, but have not come to fruition.

 

“We’re finally getting this done,” commented commissioner De Malterer. “It’s exciting to have things moving forward.”

 

At the request of the Waseca Lakes Association, commissioners issued a proclamation naming the weed harvesting vessel which has been used during recent summers on Clear Lake in Waseca “The Blair Nelson Paddle Ship.” The name is in honor of county commissioner Blair Nelson’s work spearheading the aquatic invasive species (AIS) abatement program during his tenure on the board. Nelson died suddenly in the spring of 2023. 

 

A bench  has also recently been installed along the south edge of Clear Lake. A ceremony scheduled for the afternoon of Sept. 4 dedicated the bench in Nelson’s honor.

 

Another proclamation affirmed the national observance of “Recovery Awareness Month” during September. Representing a group of individuals in recovery, Waseca area resident Elissa Johnson shared some statements in support of the proclamation, saying it would “honor the strength, healing and resilience” of people in recovery from substance abuse disorder. Johnson requested that the courthouse be lit in purple–the signature color of the movement–to acknowledge the observance. “This would be a gesture that recognizes the courage of individuals in recovery and sends a message of hope to anyone walking by.”

 

“This isn’t about funding or programming,” the group’s statement claimed. “It’s about showing that recovery is real and our community stands with those working every day to rebuild their lives.”

 

County public health nurse Sarah Berry asked commissioners to approve an agreement between the public health department and two area school districts, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.

 

Under the agreement, she explained, public health staff members would provide vision and hearing screening for young students at the schools. Districts agreed to pay Berry’s department up to $45 an hour for those services; the amount is what schools can be reimbursed by the state for providing the screenings. 

 

At the request of the planning and zoning department, commissioners approved an order of abatement regarding hazardous materials on property located within the boundaries of the small town of Matawan near the county’s southern border in Vivian Township. The order cites numerous contacts with property owner Gerard Wilmes requesting improvements, all to no avail. The abatement order authorizes the county to arrange for the removal of hazardous elements and assess the cost of the work as taxes levied against the property.