Polk County has its site secured to build a new detention center and sheriff’s office as well as new courthouse in future years and any other necessary government facilities. 

Commissioners met Monday, May 23 and unanimously approved the purchase of an additional 19.19 acres that borders both Hwy. 108 and Park Street, partially outside the Columbus City Limits. The property was formerly part of Milliken property.

Polk County Manager Marche Pittman reviewed the county’s process of negotiating the new property. The county last week approved the purchase of 2.6 acres off Park Street and announced plans to purchase an additional 19 plus acres adjacent to the Park Street property. The total land will be 22 acres to build the new jail and sheriff’s office.

Pittman said that he and commissioner Ray Gasperson identified a significant sized parcel that borders Hwy. 108 and Park Street.

“Commissioner Gasperson contacted the development company to see if there was a desire to work with Polk County on the project,” Pittman said. “After much discussion, he received a positive response.”

The county has agreed to purchase the 19.19-acre parcel for $1,950,000. The deal includes the developer preparing the site as part of the purchase price, including building roads, pads for the law enforcement facility and a future courthouse and curb and guttering.

The new jail and sheriff’s office will be accessed from Hwy. 108 and nearby homes will be buffered with trees, commissioners said.

The county is proposing building a 60-bed jail facility after being told by Moseley Architects, which is designing the new jail and sheriff’s office that the current average daily population (ADP) of the current jail is 31 inmates. Moseley’s feasibility study projected by 2040 Polk County would need 60 beds, including housing for  females and juveniles, which Polk currently does not have.

Pittman said construction of a new law enforcement facility is necessary because the existing facility has become functionally obsolete and the current jail is unable to meet current state guidelines for jail fire safety.

Moseley recommended a new jail would need five acres and commissioners have said they want to one day build a new courthouse in close proximity to the new jail so more acreage was sought.

Commissioners approved on Monday granting Pittman the authority to enter into a contract for purchase and sale of the parcel with Island Creek LLC in the amount of $1,950,000. The county also approved a new project budget ordinance for the construction of the new jail and sheriff’s office to add the purchase price to the ordinance.

Moseley estimated the new jail and sheriff’s office will cost the county $11 million, but those estimates were based on a larger facility.

During commissioner comments at the end of Monday’s meeting, commissioners thanked each other for working together so quickly on getting the land secured.

Gasperson said he made the initial phone call to the developer less than a month ago and it was amazing how quickly the process went. He thanked other commissioners for being open to the deal so quickly. Gasperson also thanked Pittman who was very cooperative every step of the way as well as attorney Jana Berg for getting things done so quickly.

“It’s been a remarkable experience in less than a month and I can’t begin to thank all of you,” Gasperson said. “I think what we did tonight was amazing.”

Gasperson also said he thinks it set the tempo for Polk County for the next 50 years through good governance and good planning.

Commissioner Ted Owens agreed saying, “This is a long awaited dream coming true. I’m hoping it will last more than 50 years.”

Owens also expressed gratitude for the late commissioner chairman Tom Pack for helping to get the new jail construction in motion. Pack, 52, died in March this year from injuries after a fall.

Owens said the county first began discussing the need for a new jail in 2005 when he and Pack were on the board.

Commissioner chairman Michael Gage thanked the board for all working together saying he appreciates everyone on the board. He specifically thanked Gasperson for all his hard work as well as Pittman and Berg.

“I wish commissioner Pack could be here at this moment,” Gage said.