Beginning construction of a new detention center will be the focus for Flathead County officials in 2026, while also looking ahead to future projects.  

After voters in November passed a $105 million bond to construct a new detention center, county officials got to work immediately on the next phase of the project to replace the current jail, which has faced capacity issues, unsafe working conditions and structural deficiencies.  

The construction project is in the design phase, said County Administrator Pete Melnick. Martel Construction and Elevatus Architect were hired by the county to build and design the new facility.  

The firms are working together through a general contractor construction manager model to determine the final price tag for the three-year construction project, which is currently estimated at $93.5 million.  

“A project this size requires a cushion or a contingency fund,” Melnick said, “so we built that into our cost estimate.” 

The current detention facility on Main Street has undergone multiple remodels. The new facility, planned to be constructed on county-owned property on Snowline Lane, is planned to have about 200 beds and is expected to enhance safety and efficiency through the latest technology, while also providing specialized housing for violent offenders and dedicated mental health facilities.    

County commissioners approved taking requests for proposals to hire an owner’s rep, who will represent the county throughout the construction project. Melnick said a final candidate should be hired by January.  

“They will help mediate differences of opinion between the architect and the construction firm," Melnick said. “We don't have that area of expertise in the county, so we need to hire that out.” 

Bids for subcontractors are expected to go out in February, and there are tentative plans for a groundbreaking event for the new facility in May. 

“That's when we feel that ground will be mostly thawed, and we'll have all of our construction documents done,” Melnick said.  

A CONSIDERABLE amount of space opened in county offices after Greater Valley Health moved out of the Earl Bennett Building and into a new clinic space on the south end of Kalispell. The county is looking to move various department offices related to land use into the empty space in the building on First Avenue West, Melnick said.  

“Our idea is that we would make a land use hub, or land use cluster, where members of the public don't have to travel all up and down Main Street to have questions answered for development,” Melnick said.  

Architecture firm Cushing Terrell has been hired by the county and is interviewing several departments to determine how to best accommodate needs in a redesign plan, Melnick said, which will be considered by the county in the coming year.   

The Flathead County Fairgrounds spent $1.3 million replacing the old north bleachers with new aluminum stands, paid for through a combination of county savings and capital improvement plan funds, after a 2024 inspection determined the bleachers were unsafe. 

Next on the county’s priority list is pursuing deferred maintenance projects on the covered grandstands.  

“The biggest concern is the roof,” Melnick said. “The roof is a vital part of the infrastructure for the grandstands, provides shade, provides protection, but it needs some work in repairs.” 

There is currently no estimated timeline or cost available for the repair project, which is in the early stages of analysis. Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally has previously expressed a need to replace old barns on the fairgrounds, but project plans have not yet been confirmed.  

Replacing the northern bleachers zapped most of the department’s savings, he said. 

“We've spent my budget pretty much for the north bleachers, so now I'm trying to save up that money, as we go forward,” Nunnally said.  

THE SOLID Waste Department will continue its expansion project of the Flathead County landfill, adding 121 acres in the southern area of the property located off U.S. 93 north of Kalispell. Of that acreage, 74 acres are planned for refuse disposal. 

Public Works Director Dave Prunty said 1 million yards of soil needs to be excavated before a liner is installed in the expanded area. Roughly 240,000 yards of soil were removed in 2025, and another 400,000 yards of soil will be excavated next summer. The remainder will be removed in the summer of 2027, and the liner installed in 2028. 

The $18 million project is funded through a 15% rate increase approved by county commissioners in 2024. The rate change includes an additional 3% annual rate increase for the next four years, which began in November.  

“We're keeping up with inflation. We are still putting more money into the bank,” Prunty said. “It's all about trying to make sure the district has the needed funds to build this $18 million project.” 

The south area of the landfill was built in 1971 and is expected to fill up within five years, Prunty said. This project is estimated to add an additional five to seven years of capacity in the south area, expanding the landfill’s life capacity to 80 years.  

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].