The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is looking at ways to make the current county juvenile detention facility last a bit longer as preparations are made to build a new one in Benton Township. Speaking at a Thursday meeting, Commissioner Jim Curran said the administration committee has spoken with architecture and engineering firm Wightman about some reliable, short-term projects that could extend the life of the old facility in Berrien Center.
“The primary purpose of doing all this is because it’s apparent, folks, that we’re not going to build that new juvenile center tomorrow,” Curran said. “We’re going to have to use that old facility. So, what we’re trying to posture right now is to make the old facility usable, and well usable – not just put a Band Aid on it – for another five to ten years.”
Curran said with construction costs too high at this time, the county commission would be unlikely to authorize the spending needed to build a new facility in the next year. Wightman will be looking at things like the old facility’s water and sewer system to make it more feasible for the county to continue operating it while plans are made for the new center.
