IOWA CITY

If Johnson County and the City of Iowa City join up to build a new jail, it will cost more than $100 million and perhaps be located not far from Iowa City Municipal Airport.

Details of a new jail and building for Johnson County Sheriff offices and Iowa City Police are moving quickly enough that a resolution will soon come before the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to formally approve coordination between the county and Iowa City.

A study conducted by Shive Hattery Architecture & Engineering, and OPN Architects of Iowa City, was presented to the Johnson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee at its meeting August 14. The study included an estimated cost of up to $106 million for a joint facility shared by Johnson County and Iowa City and a location on property that is owned by Iowa City at the junction of Riverside Avenue and Highway 6.

A tentative timeline includes a bond referendum going before voters in November 2026 and a two-year construction project beginning sometime in 2027.

“It could be four to four and a half years from today when we step foot in this building,” said Julie Persons, Johnson County Auditor.

Even the resolution to negotiate specific plans with Iowa City is not certain. Some supervisors are not convinced a new Johnson County jail needs 140 beds at a time when crime is reported to be falling.

If Johnson County builds a new jail and sheriff’s facility on its own, the estimated cost is $80 million plus additional money to find land for a new jail along with design costs. Shive Hattery estimated that $9.4 million and 16,000 square feet can be saved with a facility shared by the county and Iowa City although the jails and offices would still be separate.

The $106 million jail would include a raised building with parking underneath. An optional $104.5 million plan would have all parking in surface lots around the complex, which would have restrictions to the south of the property due to flight paths leading to Iowa City Airport.

The current Johnson County jail is in the midst of extensive renovations due to its age. Space is so tight that some supplies are kept in hallways and some work spaces are in closet-like areas with no wellness or fitness areas for police staff. Water leakage has led to the replacement of the jail’s roof.

An Iowa City police official said some of their work spaces are in “broom closets.”

A survey conducted by the University of Iowa’s Center for Social Science Innovation indicated more than 70% of respondents were in favor of a new county jail.

Mediation Program

A recommendation on a field mediation program brought to the Board by Supervisor Mandi Remington faced criticism both in the timing of the initiative and the work itself.

Several elected officials, including Supervisor Rod Sullivan, Sheriff Brad Kunkel and County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith, said they were given just one day to review the initiative.

“I want to be able to have some involvement,” Sullivan said. “I don’t know anything about this.”

“This is the start of a conversation. This really isn’t the start of a conversation,” Zimmermann Smith said. “You’re bringing everybody in in the middle of a conversation. You clearly throught it through.”

“Everybody can’t be the first to find out about something,” Remington said. “The conversation has to start somewhere.”

The initiative involves applying for financial and technical support through a program that would bring “field mediation” to both Johnson County and Iowa City via CommUnity Mobile Crisis. The mediation clears the way for an unarmed (non-police) “third-party response to non-violent interpersonal conflict.”

Kunkel was not in favor of the plan.

“I’m a little disappointed to find out about a matter involving public safety in rural Johnson County and it wasn’t brought to my attention,” he said. “This is not to sound bullish to you all, but public safety in rural Johnson County is not your job. It’s mine. It’s my responsibility. It’s what I was elected to do. When we’re talking about a program that is a diversion, an end-around maybe, on law enforcement in some instances, I should be in the loop on these things if we’re going to be talking about anything involving law enforcement in Johnson County in the rural areas.

“We’re good at these kinds of calls.”

That response led to a reaction from Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz.

“I’m actually shocked to hear that you wouldn’t be in support of something that would save 700 calls (annually) from your deputies,” Fixmer-Oraiz said. “Imagine how much more actual policing you could be doing if you’re not resolving situations that somebody else could be equally and professionally trained to do.”

Julie Persons, Johnson County Auditor and former Swisher Mayor, said it’s important that the program would also serve smaller county communities in addition to Iowa City.

The deadline for application to the grant program is October 1. Jon Green, Board Chair, said it would come up for formal consideration in September.

County Pay

A job re-evaluation appeals process resulted in several jobs, including health planner, emergency preparedness planner and Board administrative assistant, being downgraded in the county’s pay grade system.

“Ethically, morally, I will never support a downgrade,” Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz said.

The downgrades also resulted in opposition to the plan during public comment.

The changes passed by a 4-1 vote with Fixmer-Oraiz opposing.

Board Action

The Board approved a professional services agreement of $64,500 with Eogene Environmental Group for work at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm.

The Board approved several service agreements, including one with Lone Tree Community School District Library for $2,000.

The Board approved an electric line easement to ITC Midwest so that a line could cross conservation land north of Solon.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. August 21.