Jail expansion on budget
LOREN BENOIT/Press The jail expansion project is on budget and about a week behind schedule. It is slated to be completed in September. The first floor has been shelled and work has started on the second floor. A tent has been built over the expansion, allowing workers to continue construction without any interruptions.
Construction of the expansion project continues Monday afternoon at the Kootenai County Jail. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Despite the recent cold snap and size of the Kootenai County Jail expansion, the project is only a week behind schedule and on budget, according to county officials.
"Not too bad for a $12 million project," said Shawn Riley, the county’s building and grounds director. "We’re still shooting to have it completed in September. We’re in really good shape (both financially and timewise)."
Riley said the first story of the 30,000-square-foot expansion has been shelled and work has started on the second floor.
"It’s starting to take shape," Riley said.
The project consists of 84 beds to house felons, a 28-bed medical unit, 10-bed inmate worker dormitory and new laundry facility. The construction portion of the project is $10.5 million.
The jail currently has 327 beds.
The project is being done with fund balance dollars so it will not raise taxes.
Joe Donovan, Sletten Construction’s project manager, provided county commissioners an update of the project on Monday. He said work continued even during the recent snowy and cold weather.
"We are playing the cards Mother Nature has dealt us by tenting the masonry walls so we can continue construction throughout the entire winter," Donovan said, adding that the county is expected to have the certificate of occupancy for the expansion on Sept. 5.
Donovan said the project was about 20 days behind schedule early on due to hurdles underground, but ground has since been made up on the project.
"We’re still on target," Commissioner Marc Eberlein said.
Riley said there haven’t been any major changes to the project since ground was broken late last summer.
- In another county project, bids will be opened today on a parking realignment and paving project for the existing dirt public parking area behind the Justice Building on the courthouse campus.
Riley said the project estimated to cost about $300,000 will increase the number of parking places from 70 to 106.
"It will help a lot and is overdue," Riley said.
Pedestrian-controlled traffic signals at Northwest Boulevard and Garden Avenue are being installed. The intersection leads to the future city-county shared parking lot across Northwest from the courthouse campus.
The groundwork has been completed on that 140-space lot and some of the concrete islands have been poured.