Committee begins planning for a new Justice Center on county‑owned land

The Capital Outlay Committee on May 7 began preliminary discussions about siting and sizing a new Justice Center on county‑owned land near the existing jail.

Chair said the county will not purchase new land and is evaluating a wooded parcel in front of the jail to determine how much of the property can be used and what building footprint is feasible. "I am not worried about square footage — I can go up just as easy as I can go out," Chair said, adding that the county will consider multiple levels if necessary to meet courtroom and clerk space needs.

Committee members raised engineering and planning issues including wetlands that may require mitigation or wetland‑banking, the need to annex land or ensure courtroom locations meet city‑limit requirements, and the operational advantage of connecting the new facility to the existing jail for secure inmate movement. Members noted there is no budget or funding source yet identified; Chair said staff will work with Saint John Engineering on site analysis and return proposals to the committee for later budget discussions.

No decisions or funding commitments were made; members asked staff to return with site sketches and cost estimates for further consideration at a future meeting.