Justice center funding sought

With a state budget surplus of more than $17 billion, Carlton County leaders are again looking to the state legislature for help funding the new justice center, despite voter approval in November of a half-cent sales tax for the next 30 years.

The county had requested $22 million in state bonding money for the combined jail and courts facility during the 2022 legislative session, but the divided legislature failed to pass a bonding bill. Now, because construction has already started, the justice center project no longer qualifies for bonding money, which can only be used for projects yet to be built.

Still, county officials have hope — and a strong need — for state money. At the Carlton County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday, project manager Paul Coughlin reported that the current bid package is slightly higher than anticipated in some areas, but the estimated final costs are still under the $65.84 million guaranteed maximum price from the construction manager that was approved in July 2022. Adding to the cost, for example, were fire safety items that were required before the state would give a building permit.

The total project cost remains at an estimated $74.84 million, including soft costs such as furniture, fixtures, equipment and permits. According to legislation, money collected from the sales tax can cover $60 million plus interest on the bonds, which leaves between $10-15 million of costs to be covered.

“With over $10 million in additional funding for the justice center still required for the current plan, we are waiting for the legislature to fulfill their promise to fund the project,” auditor/treasurer Kevin DeVriendt told the Pine Knot News before Monday’s meeting. “The money cannot come from state bonding monies since the project is under construction. But there is a substantial amount of excess state money that could help us out. We will not borrow one more dollar until they make a decision.”

Under construction on County Road 61 near the Transportation Building, the justice center will feature a new jail, courthouse, offices for probation and a new 911 call center. It’s the largest, most expensive project in the history of the county.

Earlier, $2 million was granted to study the establishment of a program for female inmates in the new justice center, and the recommendations have been included in the planned building under construction. Such a program does not exist in the region.

The facility was expected to open in August 2024, but that may be delayed as electrical and mechanical supplies that are needed for the new construction are still in short supply.

The board approved in excess of $200,000 of opioid settlement money to create an active peer support group approach to focus on ongoing addiction issues while inmates are incarcerated and during re-entry into the community. The services will be one of many priorities in the new justice center. The opioid settlement funding will remain in place for the next 18 years.

Contractor bids

Bids were let for the bulk of the construction costs in November after the sales tax was approved by voters. The following list of successful contractors — including a number of regional businesses employing local union workers — was recommended by the general contractor Adolfson & Peterson Construction:

Masonry – Harbor City Masonry, Duluth, $1,830,405

Misc. metals – KMH Erectors, Maple Plain, MN $306,700 (not final)

Roofing – Thelen Heating & Roofing, Brainerd $1,521,000

Sealants – Carciofini, Burnsville $435,850

Glazing, aluminum doors/windows – St. Germains, Duluth $553,996

Misc. metals – American Structural Metals, Somerset, WI $676,278 (not final)

Carpentry – Adolfson & Peterson, Minneapolis $4,108,642

Metal wall panels – Progressive Building Systems, Otsego, MN $431,200

Overhead doors – Doorco, Duluth $116,394

Framing/drywall – Custom Drywall, St. Paul $2,142,300

Tile – Johnson Carpet One, Duluth $249,500 (not final)

Flooring – Multiple Concept Interiors, Waite Park, MN $333,476

Detention equipment – Pauly Jail Building Co. Noblesville, IN $6,225,221

Laundry – RJ Kool Midwest (BDS Laundry), St. Paul $66,895

Fire protection – Summit Fire Protection, Duluth $982,555

Electrical – Hunt Electric, Duluth, $8,208,300

Ceilings – Sorlie Acoustics, Duluth $497,165 (not final)

Paint – Fransen Decorating, Milaca $535,142 (not final)

Food service – Horizon Equipment, Eagan $259,327

Elevators – Otis Elevator, Roseville $351,855

Mechanical – Thelen Heating & Roofing, Brainerd $11,978,440

Site fencing – Action Fence, Blaine $143,395

Also Monday, county coordinator Dennis Genereau got board approval to reorganize custodial services. Two current custodians will be promoted to lead positions and each have separate county building duties assigned to them. Overall supervision will be handled by the county coordinator at a significant cost savings.