3. Feasiblity study for juvenile detention/alternative holding facility

Opening Statement As the Cass County Sheriff's Office plans for the future, it has become imperative that we grow in some specific arenas. While the initial thought process was to build a law enforcement center on Cass County Jail property that would house the entire Sheriff's Office, as well as the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the timing for such a project is not now. Also, as the leadership of the Cass County Sheriff's Office, we must prioritize our needs and separate what would be nice, compared to what we really need. As the stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have to be diligent and frugal in how we spend these funds and the projects that are funded. The addition to the Cass County Courthouse has freed up space by allowing other departments to move into the new addition, thus allowing the administration elements of the Sheriff's Office to move into the vacated spaces. While a law enforcement center would put us all under one roof, consolidate our command structure, and streamline our operation, it is not our priority at this time. As a Command Staff we have prioritized our immediate needs. They are adding a true Juvenile Detention Center, adding workable space to accommodate the concept of Alternative Sentencing and the 24/7 program, moving the Field Services Division of Cass County back into Cass County buildings and developing workable space for the Cass County Coroner's Office. The original Juvenile Detention facility built in the 1970's, located in the Cass County Annex, was designed for truants, smokers, and shoplifters. The facility was functional in that era, but quickly outgrew its ability to safely control the types of juvenile offenders we now hold. After a number of incidents, one in which a Cass County Juvenile Detention Deputy was assaulted by a murder suspect, we had to make changes. The old facility was a dangerous environment in that