County Board considers options to address space and security needs

When the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) last year, it included a proposal for a justice center complex. The plan aimed to address both space needs and security concerns at the current courthouse.

At the Apr. 23 meeting, the board changed course, pausing the justice center plan. They pointed to several reasons for putting the project on hold. The price for the project, came in higher than the estimate cited during the initial CIP conversations. Additionally, it is unlikely that the county would get a level of state or federal funding support to make the project possible.

Considering other options

County Administrator James Joerke told WTIP after the May 14 board meeting that the commissioners are considering several options to replace the justice center project. The master plan that the board was presented at the beginning of April included both an addition to the existing Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and the construction of a court facility on the same parcel of land. Joerke explained that the two elements that would comprise a justice center could be separated.

This separation would allow the county to potentially use parts of the LEC expansion draft plan, without building the entire proposed justice center structure. Joerke expressed that while more planning will be required before officially moving forward with that project, he sees widespread consensus about the LEC’s needs. He said,  “There seems to be pretty strong agreement, not just on the board, but in the community, that that is a need that we need to address.”

Other options that Joerke mentioned include the county acquiring a commercial office space, and a reconfiguring of existing county spaces. He said that the board is looking at how the current courthouse space could be adjusted, as well as the potential that the Cook County Community Center could be considered for a major renovation.

Joerke said that remodeling the community center, a building used by many different local group, could be a way to meet the needs of both the county and residents. He said, “I think there would be a way to look at some modification of, or addition to, the community center that would address those other needs, and also address needs of the community. Providing better meeting spaces, a better facility to to have public events and provide for for some kind of long term growth. ”

Current deferred maintenance projects

All of the options that have been discussed by the board thus far are still in the early exploratory stages. Joerke said that before any concrete plans were made there would be opportunities for public feedback in addition to the conversations by commissioners. In the meantime, the county is moving forward with several deferred maintenance projects. Both the Colvill town hall and the community center in Grand Marais roofing projects were part of the CIP maintenance list. Joerke said that after a recent wind storm, the roof of the Cook County History Museum has been added to that list.

For all three roofing projects Joerke said that the county is looking to work with local contractors, and are taking bids now. He said that according to the local roofers he has been in contact with, completing those roofing projects this summer is still possible.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Cook County Administrator James Joerke about what options the Board of Commissioners is discussing to address needs identified in the Capital Improvement Plan. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski May 16, 2024