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Law Enforcement Center & Courthouse Updates Project
The Floyd County Jail does not meet the current needs for the staff, public, or inmates.
Delbert Longley, Chief Jail Inspector, Iowa Department of Corrections
That October 2013 quote started the ball rolling on a series of discussions, studies, assessments, and designs leading up to a Citizens Advisory Committee's recommendation to the Floyd County Board of Supervisors for a new law enforcement center and courthouse updates project.
The Citizens Advisory Committee, made up of residents of the county and employee representatives from cities in the county, state offices serving the county, and Floyd County offices, participated in meetings facilitated by representatives from Prochaska & Associates, the firm procured to complete Phase 1 & 2 assessments. Following a diligent study of reports, participating in numerous meetings, touring the jail, and reviewing several design options, the Committee selected Option 1B. This option is a single story Law Enforcement Center (LEC) including Sheriff's office, a 32-bed jail facility, communications (dispatch) center, and a secure elevator separating inmates from the public for access to the 3rd and 4th floor courtrooms. A common atrium serves as a lobby connecting the new LEC with the existing courthouse and includes an ADA compliant elevator and public restrooms. A multi-purpose room serving as an Emergency Operating Center (EOC), training room and meeting room is available from the lobby for public access. Improvements are also planned for the 1941 courthouse, including a replacement of windows to the original look of the courthouse, a new heating/cooling system and a reconfiguration of space needs for certain offices.
Studies reviewed by Citizens Advisory Committee:
Some of several considerations studied: (Refer to Floyd County Part 2 Facility Development study above for details and costs of each option.)
Following their own due diligence of options and plan designs, on February 19, 2018, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution setting May 1, 2018 as a date for a special election entering into a loan agreement and issuing bonds for the purpose of acquiring real estate and constructing, finishing, and equipping a County Law Enforcement Center and of undertaking renovations to the County Courthouse.
Public Measure A "Shall the County of Floyd, State of Iowa, enter into a loan agreement and issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount of $13,500,000, for the purpose of acquiring real estate and constructing, furnishing and equipping a County Law Enforcement Center and of undertaking renovations to the County Courthouse?" passed with 68.72% of the votes.
The Board's next steps were to identify a Core Team (Supv Linda Tjaden, Sheriff Jeff Crooks, and Auditor Gloria Carr) to work with Prochaska reps on more defined details and hire a construction manager, The Samuels Group, to make it all happen.
If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to contact a Core Team member or any of the Board of Supervisors about our project. Watch this page for more details as the project progresses.
Official Election Results - Passed 68.72%
Progress Report
February 14, 2022
As of January 18, the Sheriff's office and Jail have relocated to the new Law Enforcement Center. Public access to the Sheriff's office is available from the new atrium (the middle structure that connects the courthouse and the LEC). Entrance to the new parking lot is on the south side of Court St. There is no indoor public access from the courthouse to the sheriff's office; the only public access to the Sheriff's office is from outside by entering the right entrance door of the atrium on the north (Court St) side of the addition.
Renovation of the courthouse is underway. More than 50 window air conditioners and all of the old 1970's windows are being removed, along with the original 1940 frames and asbestos caulk being abated before new windows can be installed.
A lead paint assessment was conducted before demolition in areas could be performed. Removal of the 4th floor jail cells is underway and the 4th floor ceiling demo along with asbestos abatement is also underway. Throughout the courthouse, holes for the HVAC duct work are being cut out.
Construction work in the courthouse is being conducted while the courthouse is open. This is a work zone area so be careful of ladders and materials in hallways. Excuse the dust and expect noise as construction continues. Work is expected to go on for a few months.