Carlton County Justice Center unveiled

Carlton County's new home for its Sheriff's Office, courts and jail got its public unveiling last week. Too massive to cover behind a curtain, the new Carlton County Justice Center sat gleaming in front of the more than 100 guests who attended the outdoor grand opening.

Jana Peterson

Among attendees Aug. 22 was Chief Justice Natalie Hudson of the Minnesota Supreme Court. She toured the facility, tripling up her "wows" when she walked into one of the three second-floor courtrooms.

"Wow, wow, wow, this is amazing," Hudson said.

Jana Peterson

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson toured the new justice facility. "Wow, wow, wow, this is amazing," Hudson said inside one of the three courtrooms. She spoke at the grand opening to county, township, Carlton and Cloquet officials, as well as residents, politicians, candidates for office, deputies, jail staff, tribal officials, and attorneys and judges.

Surrounded by county, township and city of Carlton and Cloquet officials, residents, politicians, candidates for office, deputies, jail staff, tribal officials, and attorneys and judges, Hudson delivered one of three addresses that highlighted the event.

"I extend heartfelt congratulations to everyone who played a role in bringing this incredible project to life," Hudson said, wearing a pink blazer against the polished stone of the $75 million facility.

"This Justice Center represents more than just a new building," she added. "It embodies a vision for a safer, more efficient, more inclusive and more just community."

County board chair Susan Zmyslony offered a brief history of 17 years of planning and work that went into the project, which started in 2007 and gained momentum after the aging jail in Carlton began to earn failing analyses and deadlines for solutions from the state.

Construction started in 2022 on property along County Highway 61 that was annexed by the city of Carlton from Twin Lakes Township in order to keep the facility in the county seat, as required by state law. The new Justice Center neighbors the county's Transportation Building.

"What you see before you is a testament to what can be achieved with focus, determination and collaboration," Zmyslony said, before thanking more than two dozen people associated with lifting the project into reality.

Two of them, Duane Grace, a volunteer member of the citizen advisory committee, and Mary Finnegan, the county's former economic development director, both passed away earlier this year and earned special mention from county coordinator Dennis Genereau, who called Grace's citizen perspective and Finnegan's internal work "instrumental." Of Finnegan, it was noted she helped secure $14 million in state funding, as well as state legislature passage of the county's half-cent sales tax that will raise $60 million dedicated to payment of the facility.

Teamwork

State Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Kettle River, was in attendance. He sought and ultimately voted in support of project funding.

"It's quite impressive," Dotseth said. "This is what happens when you have bipartisan support - you get together and get something accomplished."

Dotseth's predecessor, Mike Sundin, DFL-Esko, was also in attendance. He, too, worked hard in and out of office to marshal support for the project.

"It's great to be a part of something like this," Sundin said, proud of the funding mechanisms used to build the Justice Center. "We were very successful in keeping the bulk of this financial burden off the taxpayers in Carlton County."

Sheriff Kelly Lake delivered the final address, saying the building will serve the needs of Carlton County for "many decades" to come. She also shined a light on jail administrator Paul Coughlin, who was the project manager for the county throughout planning and construction. Coughlin dedicated years of his life to the project, Lake said, making the "most significant individual impact on this Justice Center." He conducted multiple studies related to the project, traveled to other facilities and programs to learn what to incorporate into the new facility, and oversaw two years of construction from an on-site trailer.

"Paul, as sheriff, I want to tell you how proud I am of you and everything that you've done," Lake said.

Jana Peterson

Sheriff Kelly Lake thanks jail administrator Paul Coughlin for his work as project manager of the new building and presents him with a plaque inset with a key to the old jail.

For his part, Coughlin wore a smile and was appreciative of the plaudits.

"I was the holder of information," he said. "There really was no one person. It was information sharing and being part of the team."

Practically, most county and court employees will be moved into the facility beginning Sept. 16, followed by jail staff later. The jail still awaits inspection and licensing from the state Department of Corrections.

"I will feel much better once we're here and operating, because we'll actually get to see the building come alive," Coughlin said. "We designed it a certain way and it's going to run a certain way, but we won't truly know what that will look like until we have the building operating."

Safety

Judge Rebekka Stumme was among the attendees at the grand opening. She and fellow Sixth District Court judge Amy Lukasavitz will have private quarters and a secure, private hallway leading into the courtrooms. Stumme was thrilled with the modern updates, such as accessibility ramps, the technology associated with the courtrooms, and the security of the overall facility.

Jana Peterson

Judge Rebekka Stumme, right, was among the attendees at the grand opening.

"The safety, from our perspective in courts, is night and day," she said. "We have secured parking. Right now, everybody knows where I park and what car I drive."

She noted public point-of-entry screening for anybody accessing the building. She won't be compelled to walk public halls in her judge's robe, and the public will no longer be encountered by jailed defendants in public hallways or in an elevator, like the current setup at what has now been renamed the Carlton County Historic Courthouse.

Jay Coughenour, director of human services for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, also noted the details baked into the new facility.

"It's one of the most intentional facility builds I've ever seen," Coughenour said. "There is so much thought that was put into the structure of the building being an asset for the people."

He cited the layout designed to flow employees and inmates in efficient manners.

"It is absolutely state of the art," Coughenour said.

Senior superintendent Mike Hartl of contractor Adolfson & Peterson Construction, of Duluth, noted that 517 days of construction yielded no lost-time work injuries.

"I'm very happy with how it turned out," Hartl said.

Chief Justice Hudson was particularly impressed by the consolidation of the Sheriff's Office, probation, public defenders, county attorneys and guardians ad litem, all being located under one roof.

"Having everyone in one place will enhance communication and coordination across the criminal justice system," Hudson said. "It is truly an amazing achievement."

*****

Thanks all around

What follows is county board chair Susan Zmyslony's statement thanking the individuals closely associated with the project:

"On behalf of the Carlton County board, I would like to thank everyone involved in making this facility a reality. I would like to give specific thanks to the following for their exceptional efforts towards this project:

Sheriff Kelly Lake and jail administrator and county project manager Paul Coughlin.

The members of our citizens advisory committee: Alecia Johnson, Bruce Blacketter, Clarence Badger, Duane Grace, Glen Wirtanen, Kim Munoz, Leslie Riess, Mary Munn, Melanie Maki, and Robert Switzer.

My fellow county commissioners Dick Brenner, Marv Bodie, Tom Proulx, and Gary Peterson, and former commissioner Mark Thell.

County Attorney Lauri Ketola.

Chief justice Natalie Hudson of the Minnesota Supreme Court, chief judge Leslie Beiers of

the Sixth Judicial District, and judges Rebecca Stumme and Amy Lukasavitz.

The city of Carlton and Twin Lakes Township for their cooperation and support in the annexation of the property this building sits upon.

Sen. Jason Rarick and Rep. Jeff Dotseth.

Former representatives Mike Sundeen and Mary Murphy.

Minnesota Department of Corrections commissioner Paul Schnell and his staff.

Construction project manager Carey Ottman Everson and superintendent Mike Hartl of Adolfson & Peterson Construction.

Architects Scott Fettig and Erik Daniels of Klein McCarthy Architects.

The members of the Justice Center steering committee and the Justice Partners committee,

including Tony Mancuso, Fond du Lac and RBC and staff.

And all the women and men in the trades whose hands put together this modern, beautiful

building these past two years.

Thank you so much; your work and dedication to this project is greatly appreciated."