2. Courthouse third floor re-use recommendations

Building Committee-August 20, 2008 1 CASS COUNTY BUILDING COMMITTEE AUGUST 20,2008-3:10 PM 1. MEETING TO ORDER Committee Chairman Scott Wagner called the Cass County Building Committee meeting to order on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at 3:10 PM with the following members present: County Commissioner Darrell Vanyo; County Administrator Bonnie Johnson; County Auditor Michael Montplaisir; East Central Judicial District Judge Doug Herman; and County Commissioner Scott Wagner. Also present were Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney; Fargo Assistant Police Chief Todd Osmundson; North Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Jim Prochniak; and Foss Architecture President Rick Hoganson. Also present via conference call was Dennis Kimme, President, Kimme & Associates. 2. MINUTES APPROVED MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mrs. Johnson seconded that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as written. Motion carried. 3. JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER OPTIONS Mrs. Johnson said the new jail was built with room for growth on the west side of the facility for possible relocation of the Sheriff's Office. After hearing about initial plans for construction of a sub-station for Fargo law enforcement in the southwest portion of the city, county and city officials met to discuss a possible joint law enforcement center. Sheriff Laney said a joint law enforcement center would allow one facility to be built where services could be shared; provide a cost savings to taxpayers; and allow for a "one-stop" shop for citizens. Also, if the Sheriff's Office moved out of the Courthouse, this would allow vacated space to be used by other county offices. Assistant Chief Osmundson said the Fargo Police Department has limited space and no room for additional employees. He said some sort of expansion is needed and believes a new facility would be advantageous for all those involved. If the downtown police station is vacated, other city offices currently cramped for space could use the building. He said the police department would need approximately 50,000 square feet. The Fargo Municipal Court could also be located at a combined law enforcement center. The North Dakota Highway Patrol is looking for space to also build a facility in the southwest part of Fargo. Captain Prochniak discussed growth in the Fargo area and additional staff hired as a result. He said their regional command center needs additional space and is very interested in co-locating with the county. He said, pending legislative approval, the highway patrol would enter into a lease option with the county. He feels an important benefit would be the increased opportunity for communication among the three agencies. Mrs. Johnson said the next step, if the committee agrees, is to ask Mr. Montplaisir to put together financing options. She suggested financial representatives from each agency meet to discuss cost estimates and said the concept still needs to be formally