The Shawano County Board of Supervisors in Wisconsin voted unanimously to borrow $121 million for a design plan and development of a new courthouse. County officials anticipate the project will update the county inmate housing and create safer spaces for inmate transfers.
The new two-story courthouse will contain offices and chambers for three circuit court judges, courtrooms, and space judicial assistants and jury rooms. There are currently two circuit court judges, but the state is in the process of approving a third. The assembly has approved it, and it is in the hands of the senate. Whether it passes both houses and is signed by the governor will be known before construction begins.
The jail will receive a new 150-bed housing unit. The plan adds a new intake area with a sally port and secure connection to the courthouse. The present system requires transporting prisoners across the street.
The board authorized the purchase of one property needed for the project and is still seeking to acquire an additional parcel.
A private firm developed the preliminary plans for the courthouse campus, and the board voted to continue working with the firm through final design and construction. The Samuels Group and Venture Architects will now refine the plans and prepare bid documents for contractors. The project will be divided into smaller bid packages to allow more local contractors to participate.
The county’s finance director says the tax impact should be five cents per 1000 the first year, six cents the second year and decrease after that. According project officials, the construction project opens the door for new construction in 2036 of a new possible sheriff’s department and additional inmate housing. At that point, the existing sheriff’s department and jail would be demolished.
Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels
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