Rice County Public Safety Center Construction Ahead of Schedule

The Rice County Board of Commissioners went on a tour Tuesday, May 9, 2023, of the Public Safety Center being constructed on the north end of Faribault.

The tour was taken after Commissioners concluded their meeting at the Government Services Building in Faribault.

I asked if I could join them and they said, "Sure."

Baseball cap under obviously not a good idea.

September 14, 2021 County Board approved the purchase of 109.2 acres off Highway 3 at 30th Street in Faribault for 1.65 Million dollars.  A portion of the site to be used for a new Public Safety Center.

Bord votes January 31, 2022 to seek legislative approval to put a .375% sales tas referendum on November ballot.  Funds would help pay for Safety Center.

June 7, 2022 Board approves $32.9 Million in bids for construction of Public Safety Center.  Two items needed to be rebid.

July 2, 2022 Board approves $2.165 Million dollar bid to build storage facility at PSC to Met-Con Construction of Faribault.

July 19, 2022 Board approves $48.86 Million bond sale.  3.78% interest rate for 30 year bonds. The county received a AAA credit ratimg from S&P Global Ratings due in part, to a credit enhancement it received from the state of Minnesota.   Also approved $1.43 Million for concrete work.

August 9, 2022 Public Safety Center groundbreaking for construction.

On the tour I asked the construction manager what percentage of the project was complete.  He said, "Shooting from the hip an estimate of 15%."

July 2019 Minnesota Department of Corrections notified Rice County it was downgrading the county's main jail to a 90-day facility.

A jail study was conducted with findings presented to the Board of Commissioners in February of 2021 (COVID happened in 2020).

Study examined building at present site, annex site, or building new.  Steele County made a proposal to join them in a regional facility.

We were told on the tour the building is currently about two months ahead of schedule but construction officials said that does not necessarily mean completion will be two months ahead of schedule.

The goal for completion is fall of 2024.

Another interesting point I was told while walking on the tour was the fact the Rice County Sheriff's Office must submit a plan to the Minnesota Department of Corrections of how they will transition from the present facility to the new facility.