By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County commissioners, on May 22, addressed county jail facility issues and discussed next steps for jail planning with consultants. Among the studies would be a comprehensive operations and facility space needs assessment. 

The five-person county board agrees it is important to study the existing infrastructure along with future operational and judicial changes for Otter Tail County. There is a broad spectrum of issues that Otter Tail County is currently facing at the existing jail facility in Fergus Falls.

County board members heard from Wold Architects and Engineers, St. Paul, which has worked with other counties throughout the state of Minnesota.

During a collaborative planning process, various issues will likely be addressed, including the following:

• An architectural and engineering evaluation and analysis of the existing building conditions and deficiencies (site, exterior, interior, building systems)

• Review of current staffing deficiencies and developing a space summary of future staffing and workflow changes

• Develop conceptual options with cost estimates that will provide the county board with a broad spectrum of solutions which are analyzed and evaluated to make sure the mission, goals and objectives are met

• Interaction with the County Board of Commissioners and county residents to gather input and reactions to findings and options that would be included throughout this process