Background
For many years Gallatin County's Detention Center was located on Main Street, just West of the Courthouse (today the old detention center is leased to the Pioneer Museum). In 1979, a $2.6 million jail bond was approved by the voters to construct a new detention center at Dickerson and 16th Street (present site / 18.9 acres). Construction was completed in 1982 for a 48-bed detention center, for the cost of $1.7 million. (In 2001 the bond was paid off.)
In 1994, a Citizen Committee was appointed to study the detention center issue. In 1996, Prugh & Lenon provided a site analysis for the Law & Justice (L&J) expansion. In 1998 the County Commissioners purchased 10 acres behind the County Rest Home for a future detention center expansion.
In 2002 a Citizen Petition for a Mail Ballot Election for a new 144-bed detention center on Oak Street (including an operations mill levy of $1.8 million) was certified for adequate signatures. This land was 20 acres in size, and owned by Gallatin County. In June, the Mail Ballot election was held for an $18.7 million jail at Oak Street (with a future L&J facility). The ballot issue failed 27% supported, 73% opposed.
In August of 2005 the County Commissioners approved a second Mail Ballot Election for a new detention center at the present L&J site for $20 million. The planned facility was for 160 beds. The ballot issue failed narrowly, by 546 votes (23,410 counted - 11,432 supported, 11,978 opposed).
In the Fall of 2006, the County Commissioners issued a Request for Proposal to design a new detention center (160-200 beds), with the potential of a financing option and a "design build method" of project delivery.
In March 2007 the association of The Durrant Group and Dowling-Sandholm firms were selected to provide:
(1) Finalization of the Building Program
(2) Finalization of the Schematic Design Phase Documents
(3) Master Planning Activities for two possible sites (Mandeville and L&J)
(4) Cost Estimating Services
(5) Preparation of an Electronic 3D Model
(6) Preparation of a Physical 3D Mockup
(7) Public Presentation Assistance
In May 2007 there were a series of meetings conducted by the design team with the County Commissioners, committees, County Sheriff, Bozeman Police and District/Municipal Judicial authorities. From those meetings the Detention Facility floor plans were revised, cost options and site plans for both sites.
During the Fall of 2007 the Detention Center Committee analyzed options for obtaining use of land owned by the State of Montana (Mandeville property) by purchasing an easement.
On December 18th the County Commission voted to proceed with a ballot issue for a new detention center located at the present 16th Street site.
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