Jail site and scope study continues

What a new jail or justice center will look in Carlton County continues to evolve as several groups work on specific issues for the project. Recognized as the largest, single county building project since the Carlton County Courthouse became a reality in 1922, the studies are centering on:

• The feasibility of construction at the Transportation Building site off CSAH 6, aka old Highway 61.

• The size and plan for the building;

• A plan to possibly incorporate the courts at the same site;

• The layout for increased traffic at the junction of Hwy 210 and CSAH 6;

• Program needs for the complex incorporating a women’s program wing;

• Approval for the half-percent sales tax to provide funding;

• Confirm availability of the Transportation Building site according to Minnesota statute.

All these efforts are geared to provide information for the Carlton County Board of Commissioners by the end of summer, it appears, to make major decisions on the construction and programming at the new jail or justice center. A justice center would include a jail and the courts in one site along with court administration, the county attorney’s office, sheriff’s office and probation.

At a special Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 21, Carlton County jailer Paul Coughlin led a discussion and presentation with the jail study group, including commissioners, department heads and interested parties.

The architects and engineers are testing the soils and water table at the Transportation Building site to help develop a cost analysis for site work and how the site will impact the construction of a major building and its cost. There will be comparisons with a possible construction site north of the present courthouse. Major rock outcroppings and wetlands are known issues at the courthouse location.

The size and plan for the proposed building have mostly been determined by extensive studies over the last few years.

Jail study staff and county commissioners have visited existing jails and justice centers in other parts of the state. Most new jail projects include a building large enough to incorporate the courts and those services needed to run the court system efficiently and safely. The justice center concept keeps those jailed to be moved back and forth for hearings and programming without leaving a secure location. Those involved in hearings and trials, the corrections staff, and visitors move in the building safely.

A study is needed to determine how traffic congestion will be addressed as increased traffic flows through the intersection of CSAH 6 and Highway 210. Normally, the Minnesota Department of Transportation does a traffic study. The wait time can take several months. Having a consultant do a traffic study and come up with a plan will position the county to ask for special funding to complete the intersection work before a possible building opens at the Transportation Building site.

The state bonded for a $2 million grant for Carlton County to incorporate a women’s wing within the jail building for long-term treatment and programming. The current jail population has increasing numbers of women. A new building would not only handle the needs of Carlton County residents in the jail, but also would be available for incarcerated women throughout the region. This service does not exist at this time in the region.

The half-percent sales tax option for the county’s building plan has been attached to the Tax Bill yet to be passed by the Minnesota Legislature. The expansive bill could pass at any time after details are worked out during current conference committee negotiations. Once approval is given by the legislature — which now requires sales tax projects to have a regional impact — the voters of Carlton County must still approve the sales tax at the general election in November 2022.

Location also matters. According to state statute, any jail/justice center must be located at the county seat, which is Carlton. In Pine County and other sites, justice centers have been built on a land parcel not connected to the county seat. These sites were legally annexed to become part of the county seat. An agreement is now being worked out between Twin Lakes Township, the City of Carlton, and Carlton County to make it possible to have 20 acres at the Transportation Building site become part of Carlton.

“The City of Carlton should not be concerned about losing business activity with the possible justice center being built next to the Transportation Building,” commissioner Gary Peterson said. “Once [more space at] the courthouse opens up, there are several programs that will be moved there. There will not have to be such strict security in the building.”