Williamson County District Court discusses new buildings for justice center and jail

Williamson County 3rd Precinct Commissioner Valerie Covey presented the Justice Center and Jail strategic plan during the August 20 Commissioners Court meeting.

In short

The plan includes interim solutions and site options as the county's current justice center and jail become inadequate and the county prepares for an estimated 192% population growth over the next 20 years.

Based on an estimated population of 1.48 million by 2050, county officials compared larger counties such as Bexar, Tarrant and Dallas, as well as similarly sized counties such as Fort Bend and Montgomery, to estimate Williamson County's future needs.

Covey said the most important consideration in choosing a potential site is whether the property can accommodate the maximum possible development area of ​​2.6 million square feet needed to adequately serve the growing community.

According to county records, the justice center is 15,900 square feet but needs 18,400 to 19,500 square feet. The jail, on the other hand, is 33,500 square feet, which exceeds its need of 27,500 square feet.

Although the jail has sufficient capacity and a fourth floor is yet to be completed, which could extend the life of the facility, the justice center does not have enough space to accommodate a possible expansion, Covey said.

However, Covey said that when the district moves into its new headquarters in 2025, an additional 10,000 square feet of space will be available in the building's basement to be used as a temporary solution in case the justice center becomes overcrowded.

The justice center could be used for several more years if county authorities decide to move some departments to the basement, Covey said.

The details

During the presentation, Covey offered options for potential construction sites, including several in downtown Georgetown.

Covey said the county properties on W. Eighth and W. Fourth Streets between S. Rock and Martin Luther King Jr. Streets could not meet the county's needs unless the city of Georgetown allowed a height variance.

District Judge Bill Gravell expressed his reluctance to build a large prison and justice center in downtown Georgetown.

“I don’t know if I want [the justice center and jail] the entire skyline of one of our cities,” Gravell said.

County Commissioner Russ Boles said state law requires the justice center and jail to be built in Georgetown, the county seat, adding that the historic downtown was originally built around the county offices.

Potential sites also include properties outside downtown on the NE Inner Loop, SE Inner Loop and Blue Springs Boulevard.

Covey said the county needs a site that will allow for gradual expansion until completion is expected in 2050.

According to county records, the estimated cost to complete the new building is $611 million to $715 million.

Quote of the note

“Compared to other districts [Williamson County] is phenomenally ahead. [The county] is doing a truly remarkable job of keeping the prison population down and still providing justice in our county,” Covey said.

Stay tuned

The court will consider a revised proposal and timetable in October.