Keeping the major construction project moving forward on the Osceola County Public Safety Center remodel and jail addition would be the ultimate holiday wish for Sheriff Kevin Wollmuth, who has watched the schedule shift repeatedly over the past two years.
Various delays tied to planning revisions, funding complications and supply issues continue to push the timeline, even as crews work to modernize a jail facility that has been on the state inspector’s violation list for more than a decade. Built in 1907, the aging jail has long struggled with ADA and state fire marshal deficiencies, and its layout has made it impossible for staff to comply with required hourly visual inmate checks.
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Discussions about renovating or replacing the outdated structure have surfaced for years, but momentum finally came in 2021 when the county secured federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Voters then approved a bond in November 2023 with a cap of $5 million — though estimates were already hovering around $5.3 million at that time.
By the time new plans were developed and location changes were finalized, costs had risen significantly. Material inflation, design updates and bid delays lifted projections to $7 million–$8 million, and pushing back bid approval eliminated the possibility of beginning groundwork in 2024.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 8, but much of the summer was spent on major underground infrastructure work. Wollmuth emphasized just how slow and complex that stage was.
“People don’t realize how much conduit and everything is in the ground already for this,” he said. “That’s what took a long time.”
The most recent delay stems from the construction method.
“As of right now, the delay has been with the walls,” Wollmuth said. The facility is being built entirely with precast components fabricated off-site in Sioux Falls. “The whole building is considered precast. So, all the walls, inside and outside, they were made off sight in Sioux Falls, and they were hauled in. The major delay was the precast walls weren’t done in the time frame that they were supposed to be. It’s like regular construction, products not available when you want it, and that’s exactly what happened.”
The new jail layout aims to correct longstanding compliance issues while improving safety and operational flow. The southern part of the new facility will stand two stories, with jailers and inmate cells on the main level and additional cells on the second floor.
Improved classification and separation standards are key features, including required sight-and-sound separation between male and female inmates.
“The new dispatch center will run down the center of the jail,” Wollmuth explained. “The east and west sides will be separated.”
The updated design includes better workspace efficiencies, upgraded computer access and additional dedicated rooms for specialized purposes.
The one-story northern section will connect to the existing public safety building through a sally port providing a secure entry point for detainees. Inside that portion will be special status cells, a mechanical room for radio and computer equipment, and areas for food service and laundry operations.
“When somebody first gets arrested, that night they’ll go into one of those cells,” Wollmuth said. “Two of those cells will be padded cells. There’s nothing in there.”
These secure rooms will improve safety for staff when interacting with individuals who may pose medical or biohazard risks.
The project will also eliminate an old drive-through area west of the courthouse.
Progress began accelerating when precast wall panels started moving into place on Friday, Nov. 7, welded together with steel plates. Wollmuth said crews are pushing hard to prepare for the next critical steps.
“They want to start forming the concrete, and they want to start pouring the concrete floor that first week of December,” he said. “Hopefully, the ground is not frozen yet. That was one of the main concerns was we need to get the walls here and up before the ground froze.”
Most remaining materials — including doors, roof decking and mechanical components — are already on hand and waiting for installation.
Demolition of the existing jail will eventually follow, though no schedule has been set since inmates will remain there until the new facility is fully operational. The old structure will undergo minimal remodeling.
“We just need to do a little remodeling in here. The layout here is going to be the same,” Wollmuth said. One practical improvement involves relocating the evidence room.
“In the far west garage, that’s going to be a new evidence room for us. Our evidence room is down in the basement right now, and it’s a total mess with humidity and everything. It’s not good for the evidence.”
The sheriff said the consolidated layout will dramatically improve daily operations.
“The only thing different is that everything’s going to be in one area,” he said. “We’re not going to run back and forth between a house and a processing room. It’s going to make things a lot more efficient for us.”
County officials are now targeting August for completion, though Wollmuth acknowledged the nature of construction timelines.
“You know how construction works,” he said. “It’s not just this facility. It’s construction everywhere. It never goes as planned.”
Public services remain uninterrupted during construction, and once the project wraps up, Wollmuth plans to host a community open house.
Ultimately, while the new jail won’t exceed state requirements, the sheriff said it will finally give Osceola County a reliable and code-compliant facility.
“Our facility, it’s built to meet the state’s minimum standard requirements. We’re not going up and above; we’re just trying to meet the state code,” he said. “When it’s done, hopefully, we’ll have a facility for another 100 years like the last one.”
Originally reported by Sandra Jenson in NWest Iowa.
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