Grand Traverse County commissioners will tackle a busy agenda Wednesday that includes kicking off a planning process for a new county jail, approving a business plan for Camp Greilick, reviewing an update on Antrim County’s planned withdrawal from 86th District Court, and approving new lease agreements for two key shared county-city buildings.

New Jail
Commissioners Wednesday will vote on a resolution to “proceed with the construction of a new jail,” according to the resolution language.

According to a memo from Deputy County Administrator Chris Forsyth, the resolution is being proposed following a recent meeting with the sheriff, prosecuting attorney, judges, and Commission Chair Scott Sieffert and Vice Chair TJ Andrews “to review current problems and issues with the jail.” The existing county jail was built in 1964 and originally designed to hold 85 inmates “in a linear layout without consideration for future large growth in the inmate population,” according to the resolution.

The inmate population today averages 151 per day, with county commissioners earlier this month approving contracts to board surplus inmates when needed in neighboring county jails at a cost of $35 per inmate per day, in addition to transport and medical expenses. Andrews said at that meeting that those boarding contracts were a “Band-Aid” solution and that Grand Traverse County needed to focus on longer-term solutions. The need for an updated jail – due to both space constraints and deteriorating conditions – has been discussed for years across multiple sheriffs and commissions, but no concrete movement has yet occurred toward building a new facility.

A recent facilities report completed by consulting firm TowerPinkster estimated that renovating the existing jail would cost over $13 million, with most areas of facility infrastructure rated as being in “fair,” “poor,” or “replace” condition. Forsyth wrote that “due to the age and layout of the jail, renovation would not be effective – and problems related to efficiencies, correction staffing issues, and the mental or physical health needs of inmates would continue.” He added: “Thus, administration is requesting the board of commissioners plan for a new jail, which should include consideration of studying the feasibility of the jail being part of a larger criminal justice complex.”

That complex could include the sheriff’s office law enforcement division, the Traverse City Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the prosecuting attorney’s office, according to the resolution language. TowerPinkster noted that demolishing the existing jail on Washington Street and building a new one off-site could allow for multiple other projects to move forward to “further enhance the Boardman Campus.” The firm estimated a new jail could cost $50 to $60 million to construct. If the resolution is approved, Forsyth noted that the first steps will be creating a “steering committee for this project and directing administration to engage the appropriate consultants to help obtain significant public input.” The jail would be the second major facilities project the county tackles from the TowerPinkster report after Project Alpha, the planned expansion of the LaFranier Road campus currently in design.

Camp Greilick
County commissioners will vote Wednesday to approve a new business plan for Camp Greilick. County Parks and Recreation commissioners unanimously approved the document at their March 13 meeting, which was created after several months of public input and review by a strategic planning committee. The plan outlines intended uses for the county’s newest 196-acre park in south Grand Traverse County, including a five-phase rollout of recreational improvements and activities.

If approved by county commissioners, County Director of Parks and Facilities John Chase said next steps will include site plan review with East Bay Township and the creation of park rules and management practices. Goals for Camp Greilick include utilizing existing amenities, serving a broad user base, promoting engagement and connection, and providing educational opportunities, Chase said. The park is planned to be funded by a combination of partnerships, rental and programming revenues, county funding, and a dedicated endowment fund. That endowment fund has a $1.5 million fundraising goal, which would generate $60,000 annually for park maintenance, Chase said. The county hopes to open Camp Greilick to the public this year, starting with access to park trails.

Court Separation
Commissioners will hear an update from court staff Wednesday on Antrim County’s planned withdrawal from 86th District Court. Antrim County is seeking legislative and gubernatorial approval to separate from Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties and create its own independent district/probate court. If that move were to be approved this year, it will have financial and staffing implications for all three counties, which currently operate 86th District Court under an intercounty operating agreement.

According to presentation materials shared with commissioners, costs are currently shared based on caseload percentages of new filings for each county. That split might typically look like Grand Traverse at 74 percent, Antrim at 17 percent, and Leelanau at 9 percent. However, if Antrim leaves, that split will look more like Grand Traverse at 90 percent and Leelanau at 10 percent. Grand Traverse County is expected to see an increase in costs of over $153,000 annually, while Leelanau would see an increase of over $5,600. Grand Traverse County employees who are assigned to Antrim County – including three full-time office specialists, one part-time magistrate, and one full-time probation officer – “will be immediately impacted and those positions will be eliminated from the staffing plan,” according to the presentation. Antrim County is seeking the separation under the belief the move will provide better services at a lower cost to residents, though leaders of other counties and court officials have expressed skepticism about the cost savings, believing it will cost Antrim County more in the long run.  

Lease Agreements
Finally, commissioners Wednesday will approve lease agreements for two key buildings shared by the county and city: 520 West Front Street, home to MSU Extension (and previously the Commission on Aging) and 851 Woodmere Avenue, the Sergeant Dennis W. Finch Law Enforcement Center occupied by the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office and Traverse City Police Department.

The agreements will allow the county/MSU Extension to remain in the West Front building through the end of 2026 rent-free. The city will also use part of the building space for the TC Fire Department. The city, meanwhile, will have continued space in the Law Enforcement Center for its police force rent-free until the county vacates West Front. Once the county is out of West Front, the city will begin paying rent for the Law Enforcement Center – both for its own exclusive space in the building ($28,580 annually) and for shared space ($76,744), for a total annual lease of $105,324.