County Executive Dennis Gannon on Monday presented the Capital Improvement and Strategic Plan for Jefferson County, showcasing tentative projects to be completed over the next five years depending on available funding.
In a letter to the County Council, Gannon said economic and market challenges have led to higher material costs and labor shortages, forcing the county to monitor projects closely. He added that sales tax collections in the county are not keeping pace with inflation, further tempering the county’s capital improvement plans.
“We have another quarter of the fiscal year before the proposed budget is released (in December),” Gannon said. “That, combined with the economic conditions just described, requires us to be very cautious about capital commitments in the next budget year and beyond. These conditions have required us to modify timelines of certain items identified in previous CIPs, and this might again be the case in the coming years.”
The project to add a building addition and major renovations to the aging Jefferson County Courthouse was delayed by three years in the capital program documents.
The courthouse, 300 Main St., was built in 1863 and has had several updates and additions over the decades. County officials have repeatedly called for renovations or the replacement of the dilapidated building, pointing to dated electrical work and evidence of mold growth and bats living in it.
The building houses the 23rd Circuit Court, including courtrooms, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Circuit Clerk’s Office.
In last year’s CIP, the courthouse was expected to be under construction between 2029 and 2032. Now, the county expects to seek qualified bidders for the project beginning in 2031, with the courthouse under construction between 2032 and 2035.
The funding source for the work is undetermined.
In addition, a project included in earlier CIPs was left out entirely from this year’s document. The renovation or replacement of the High Ridge Civic Center, 2800 Community Lane, was not considered in this year’s plan, due to the County Council’s repeated rejections of previous renovation proposals, according to the CIP.
Last year, the council amended Gannon’s strategic plan to delay the Civic Center’s construction, expected to cost $3 million, from 2026-27 to 2029-30.
“Capital expenditures should enhance, acquire or extend the useful life of assets through a variety of activities,” Gannon stated in his letter to the council. “By reviewing the capital plan annually, the county can accommodate new projects, revise current undertakings, identify capital project needs and develop a financial roadmap to invest in or complete priority projects.”
Following a public hearing, the council voted unanimously on Aug. 24 to approve the resolution, adopting the capital program and strategic plan.
Priority projects
No funding has been allocated for most of the projects outlined in the 51-page capital program and strategic plan document, with seven of the projects expected to be funded in the 2027 budget.
■ Door replacements in the Annex Building, 725 Maple St., and front entrance doors in the Administration Building, 729 Maple St., for $100,000. This will improve access and security entering and circulating through facilities, the CIP stated.
■ Parking lot upgrades in various county-owned locations for $150,000.
■ Courthouse upgrades, including electrical upgrades and ceiling tile replacement for $50,000.
■ Fleet vehicle purchases for $975,000, to purchase 15 vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office and four for the general fleet. These units will replace high-mileage vehicles, the CIP stated.
■ HVAC replacements for $100,000 at various facilities.
■ ADA upgrades at various facilities for $50,000.
■ Computer and phone life-cycle replacements for $65,000.
Department wish lists
Most of the county departments submitted a list of priority projects to be completed in the next five years, depending on available funding, to be included in the CIP.
The Department of Information Technology expects to spend $5,055,405 over the next five years to replace technology at the end of its life, increase security measures at various county facilities and manage data.
Some of the higher-cost projects for the department include replacing old laptops and docking stations for $500,000 and replacing workstations for $230,000.
In 2027, the Office of Emergency Management plans to purchase 800 MHz radios for $200,000 and replace the department’s hazardous materials response vehicle for $2.8 million.
“Due to age, service of the (hazardous materials response) vehicle and its incorporated sensors, it is becoming challenging as parts for certain sensors and vehicle features are no longer being produced or supported by manufacturers,” the CIP stated. “The office is aggressively working with regional partners to seek grant funding to support this project, but declining availability of (Urban Area Security Initiative) funds does make outright replacement from that grant unlikely.”
The design and construction of a custom response vehicle will take at least one to two years from project initiation, the CIP states.
The Facilities Division recommends spending $1 million annually for the next five years on various exterior, interior and special projects related to county-owned buildings.
The spending includes $1,525,000 on the Jefferson County Jail, 501 First St., to clean and sanitize the HVAC ductwork, replace windows and make roof repairs, repair concrete flooring and replace the security control system.
Over the next five years, $625,000 is expected to be spent at the Annex Building to replace doors and frames, clean and sanitize HVAC ductwork and replace metal siding.
The county expects to spend between $970,000 and $985,000 annually for the next five years on vehicle replacements, Sheriff’s Office pursuit-rated SUVs and code enforcement small pickup trucks, among others.
The Parks and Recreation Department has identified five main projects totaling $740,000 to update and improve the current parks and recreational services over the next five years.
“This list is not exhaustive and does not include several million dollars of other identified major capital needs and vision for our parks system,” the CIP stated.
The projects include $215,000 for access control gates at various parks to secure the parks after hours, to be spent over the next three years.
The department installed an access control gate at the entrance to Rockford Park in House Springs earlier this year. The $54,415 gate was approved by the County Council in August 2024 to increase safety at the park along the Big River. The gate automatically closes near sundown and reopens at 5 a.m.
Additionally, the department plans to replace an old playground at the Northwest Sports Complex in House Springs in 2030 for $350,000 and will replace a 40-year-old pavilion at Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve in High Ridge for $175,000.