Concept plans for new and remodeled county buildings are expected to be ready for the public property committee when members gather Sept. 18.
Cory Beyer, of Venture Architects, told the committee Aug. 14 that interviews with all department heads have been completed, and work will now begin on developing concepts for the courthouse, sheriff’s department, jail, work release center and library, as well as the highway and human services departments.
“Everyone is utilizing the space that they have to the best of their ability,” he said.
All buildings are open for discussion, with most of the talk centering on the courthouse and sheriff’s department operations.
“There’s no building-wide security, so that’s kind of a hot topic, as well as accessibility issues throughout the buildings,” Beyer said in reference to the courthouse. “Another one, somewhat surprising, is wayfinding. We’ve had comments that the public’s coming in, in any department, to ask, ‘Where do I go for something?’”
Court-related security is a significant concern.
Men and women in jail are escorted across Third Street to the courthouse for court appearances. They cross a public street, access public hallways and sometimes cross the paths of witnesses or victims.
“Last year alone, in 2024, there were 650 people in custody who went to courts from your jail,” Beyer said.
Jim Davel, administrative coordinator, said that, in the previous week, he stepped in to separate an individual from the district attorney.
Beyer noted the inefficiencies of having the work release center across town from the sheriff’s department, jail and courthouse.
“You have two different facilities, you have staff in two different places,” he said. “In some ways, you could be doubling up on that staff. We’re looking on how to make that more efficient with staffing, transporting.”
Beyer and his staff will perform calculations to determine the cost in time, travel and vehicle use to move inmates from the work release center to the courthouse and back.
“We’re not looking at one specific area,” Beyer said. “We’re trying to keep an open mind, brainstorming, thinking out of the box of what, if you need a new facility, what that looks like, where it should be located.”
Neighborhood impacts, phases of construction, future space needs, efficiencies and revenue streams will also be considered in creating the plans.
“I mentioned the Huber facility,” Beyer said. “Do you convert that into something else? Potentially, could it be a juvenile detention center?”
There is a statewide need for more juvenile facilities. Fees charged range from $375-$1,000 a day.
“You house eight individuals 80% of the time for that year, so 292 days,” Beyer said. “It equates to about $1.4 million a year that you could generate for revenue.”
Other points made by Beyer included the jail kitchen is only 20% as large as it should be based on the number of inmates in the jail. There is also a significant need for more space for coolers, freezers and dry storage.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems need upgrades.
“Your electrical service is in dire needs,” Beyer said.
Departments’ storage items are scattered throughout the courthouse, many without proper security.
Kurt Berner, of The Samuels Group, will take Beyer’s report and develop more details from it.
“We’re going to come in and take those options and break them down into costs, meaning what’s your capital expenditure for each one of those options and break them down into phases,” he said.
The county’s bond counsel will be involved to provide information on borrowing, debt service and how it could affect taxpayers.
Berner said he will also review ways to convert the work release center into a juvenile facility if the county decides to go that route.
“You may be able to get some state funding to help with some of your first capital costs,” he said. “If that model works, now you look at the operating side. There’s a potential with the staff that you currently have with your jail, if your design is changed and you become more efficient, you wouldn’t have to increase staff, but you could see revenue come in.”
Finally, Berner will talk with city officials about possibly vacating streets that would be used for buildings or parking lots.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
