County picks sites for new jail

Talk about it

Douglas County is narrowing in on one potential building location for a new law enforcement center and jail – an 80-acre site located near the intersection of Highway 27 West and Nevada Street.

The site was recommended to the county board by the Douglas County Criminal Justice Development Committee (DCCJDC) site committee during a special meeting Tuesday.

A preliminary proposal and letter of intent to purchase the land was presented to the property owners this week. It allows both parties to move into more formal acquisition discussions to develop a purchase agreement.

The property owners’ names have yet to be publicly announced as the land acquisition is not final.

The 80-acre site meets the minimum acreage requirement (25 acres) for the law enforcement center, parking and infrastructure. The remaining acreage will be used for future county buildings and services.

At a cost of $25,000 per acre, the entire parcel will cost the county $2 million.

The price does not include possible soil borings and the classification of wetlands.

The board is still exploring possible funding options.

Also Tuesday, the board approved Elhers & Associates – an independent financial advisory company for local governments – as the county’s financial advisor for the project.

The site recommendation also gives project architect, Klein McCarthy & Co. Architects, a clearer picture of how to design the facility as well as how to layout the building site.

Site committee member Jason Murray said the site recommendation is a “vital piece” of information to help the project architect move forward with its plans.

Scott Fettig, project architect, is pleased with the chosen building site. “I think we can do some really good things out there,” he said. “It’s a great site.”

Phase II of the jail project is set to be complete by the end of July. It includes an exact jail site location, facility floor plan, staffing plan and preliminary cost estimate.

Fettig said Phase II is nearing completion. A site drawing, floor plan and cost estimate will be presented at the DCCJDC’s next meeting on July 12.

During the board’s second July meeting, Fettig will give a more in-depth PowerPoint presentation on the jail facility.

Following the July meetings, public informational meetings will be scheduled in each commissioner’s district.

Tags: government news, douglas county jail, news