Beltrami County Board approves timeline for new jail construction

Nicole Ronchetti, The Bemidji Pioneer, Minn.
·2 min read
2

Apr. 17—BEMIDJI — Construction on the new Beltrami County jail could begin as soon as next spring, with the

county board

approving the project's timeline during its meeting on Tuesday.

Alongside receiving a report on the design progress, including viewing 3D models of the exterior and interior of the jail, the county board was tasked with selecting between two options on when to start construction.

Option 1 would have started construction this fall, but working through the winter would create additional costs estimated at $500,000.

Option 2, which the board ultimately selected with a unanimous vote, would start construction in April 2025 and would not require additional spending.

"Having lived in the Bemidji area all of my life, I would definitely say Option 2 is the only way to go," said District 3 Commissioner Richard Anderson, referring to the tough working conditions the region's winter weather can bring.

The board was also shown images of the exterior and interior of the new jail's design, including details of skylights and programming spaces, along with the building's exterior. County Administrator Tom Barry shared that the design of the jail is about 50% complete.

The county board also approved giving Northern Township access to a site it has selected as the potential location for its proposed sewer project which aims to provide sewer access around northern Lake Bemidji.

The access will allow the township to test the soil and determine the site's suitability for what it has in mind. As the project continues, it's expected that the township will approach the county about the possibility of leasing or purchasing the property.

Additionally, the county approved the allocation of $145,349 from its opioid settlement funds to go toward local organizations working to provide education, resources and services to address the opioid epidemic.

A total of 10 organizations submitted their proposals to the county, with five receiving funds including Stellher Human Services, the Northwest Indian Community Development Center, North Homes Children and Family Services, the Beltrami County Drug Court and Village of Hope.

The full meeting and work session can be viewed on the

Beltrami County YouTube channel.