So, initially, when the Dane County Jail was only going to cost $76 million, it was the most expensive public works project the county every had. Now, it could cost $150 million. So they are looking for another option. Tonight, election night, at 7:00 the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee will be talking about this “change order”. But what happened to the mental health study and a restoration center?
Meeting Details
Here’s the agenda. It only had one agenda item.
Attached to the item in legistar are:
– The resolution approving the change order
– The fiscal note
– The change order
– Memo explaining why the change order is needed
Past Resolutions
The original approval was for $4,488,000
The first Change order was for $137,000 to look at an alternative location on West Wilson St.
This resolution adds $186,000 to the contract
Changes to the Jail Plans
At this point the consultants are being asked to additionally consider
The additional scope of services specifies that Mead & Hunt study three alternative design options:
1) CCB & PSB Renovations & Greenfield Site Option
a. Full Renovation of the 6th and 7th floors of the City County Building (CCB) for housing 34 Maximum and Medium Level inmates.
b. Partial Renovation of the Public Safety Building (PSB) to house medical and mental health inmates and services.
c. This option will structurally investigate if any additional floors/space can be added to the top of the existing PSB.
d. Create a new facility on a greenfield site owned by the County for housing Huber Work Release 40 Minimum Security Level Inmates. Vacate Ferris Huber Center (FHC).
e. The cost estimate will include the costs to rehouse inmates during construction at a jail outside of the County. This cost will be provided by the County.
f. Identify the classification and number of beds for the jail system.
2) PSB Renovation & Greenfield Site Option
a. Partial Renovation of the Public Safety Building (PSB) to house Huber Work Release Minimum Security Level Inmates. Vacate FHC.
b. Create a new facility on a greenfield site owned by the County for housing Maximum and Medium Level inmates including medical and mental health housing and services. Vacate 6th and 7th floors of the City County Building (CCB).
3) All Greenfield Site Option
a. Build a single consolidated jail (minimum, medium, maximum, medical and mental health and 54 Huber Work Release Housing) on a county owned or purchased Greenfield site. Repurpose or 55 sell the PSB, vacate 6th and 7th floors of the CCB and vacate the Ferris Huber Center.
b. Analyze adding a new sally port at the existing Courthouse.
c. Estimated value from sale of PSB to be provided by the County for this design study.
d. Estimated cost for transportation of inmates to and from Courthouse to be provided by the County / DCSO.
How’d we get here?
I remember when the jail was first being built and many of us were opposed to it at that point, they said they were building it so they could add floors to it. Turns out, that isn’t true.
Then, they looked at building behind the jail – but that cost of $150 Million isn’t feasible.
So, now they are looking at the options above.
But what ever happened to the study on gaps in the mental health system? And a restoration center? Or the mental health facility that was going to be built by Strategic Behavioral health? Another year has gone by . . . and I haven’t heard a thing about these options? Have you?
