County signs off on study for juvenile justice center expansion

Local architects are set to begin work determining what it would take to expand the county’s juvenile justice center.

Buchanan County commissioners signed off on a feasibility study this week for Goldberg Group Architects to determine the cost and scope of building an addition at the Judge Frank D. Connett Jr. Juvenile Justice Center.

The commissioners previously discussed building a new law enforcement center and housing juveniles in the older building, but they are leaning toward an addition at the current juvenile justice center.

“I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be the most cost-effective,” Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson said. “It’s a smaller building, we got the land, there’s no roads you got to close, no tunnels you have to build. You’re just adding on to a building that we own and the property we own.”

Needs for juvenile detention space have been discussed for months since the current facility only has six beds.

News-Press NOW previously reported that Buchanan County regularly receives calls from surrounding communities looking for a place to send juveniles for detention. Fifth Circuit Chief Juvenile Officer Linda Meyer spoke with the commissioners about a solution for the issue.

“I think Linda brought this up,” Nelson said. “Do we want to be a regional force in this?”

Meyer said 16 beds would be an improvement, but she would like to see an expansion including 24 beds.

The feasibility study will cost about $20,000 to complete, which could be lower if the county decides to greenlight the project and move forward with Goldberg Group Architects for the job.