SPI Insights

Grimes County commissioners approved a procurement timeline on August 14 for a $12.1 million justice center next to the county jail. Commissioners set a schedule that will begin with the release of bid plans on September 4. Submissions will be due October 10, and the bid award date will be October 30.

Officials expect construction of the justice center to be complete in December 2020.

The county will begin the process on September 4 with the release of bid plans for a 32,093-square-foot facility that will feature courtrooms for the district court and county court at law as well as a courtroom for special proceeding by the grand jury, justices of the peace, and commissioners court. It also will have space for jury rooms and conference rooms.

Several county officials including the tax assessor, human resources, treasurer, auditor, district clerk, and county clerk will work out of the new justice center. The county attorney, judge, election administration, probation, 9-1-1 operations, and road and bridge departments will be located at another facility.

Planners designed the justice center to have a direct connection to the county’s current jail to allow for a prisoner transport time of one minute.