Community invited to Jan. 17 groundbreaking ceremony for JLEC project, Public Safety Building

Douglas County invites the community to a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, for the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) addition and renovation project, as well as the Public Safety Building. The event will be held on the south lawn of the JLEC, 111 E. Eleventh St.

Brief remarks will be made by Douglas County Commissioner Shannon Reid; The Honorable James McCabria, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial District; Douglas County Emergency Communications Director Tony Foster; Vice President Tim Ockinga, of J.E. Dunn Construction; and Principal Jeff Lane, of Treanor.

The largest capital improvement project in the County’s history aims to:
• improve security
• enhance operational efficiency
• upgrade technology availability

“For nearly a decade, we have been diligently planning and working towards this significant milestone. I am immensely proud of the collaborative efforts of our elected officials, department leaders and staff,” County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said. “This groundbreaking project embodies our commitment to enhancing safety and security for our community and employees. We are dedicated to creating a modern facility that will serve Douglas County for generations to come.”

The project budget, approved at $81.9 million by the Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 11, 2024, will be funded with bonds and cash on hand, with no tax increase required. Treanor Architects and J.E. Dunn Construction are the design and construction team for the project, expected to take approximately two and a half years to complete.

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC):

• Houses the Seventh Judicial District, District Attorney’s Office, Emergency Communications (911 Dispatch), Emergency Management, Sheriff’s Office, Information Technology, and Buildings and Maintenance staff.

• The new addition, located on the south side of the building, will add 56,075 square feet, including six courtrooms, judges’ chambers, office areas and new holding areas for people in custody making court appearances.

• Renovations to the existing building will include modernizing the lobby and public restrooms, and reconfiguring spaces on all three floors.

• The project will improve security by providing separate paths of travel for the public, people in custody and staff, which is a best practice for modern courthouse design.

• Construction on the addition is scheduled to begin in January with a completion date of summer 2026.

• Renovation work is scheduled to begin in summer 2026 with a completion date of summer 2027.

Public Safety Building

• Located near the Douglas County Correctional Facility, 3601 E. 25th St.

• Will house Emergency Communications and Emergency Management in 11,500 square feet of storm-hardened, basement-level space.

• Main level will feature 25,565 square feet for Sheriff’s Office evidence storage, garage space for equipment and vehicles, and future Sheriff’s Office operations.

• Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025 and take one year to complete.

Information about the project is available on the county website at https://dgcoks.gov/buildings-project.