New Lincoln County Justice Center to address pandemic-era backlog and future growth Groundbreaking ceremony set for Aug. 6

Lincoln County Commissioner Jim Jibben stands where the future Lincoln County Justice Center will be located. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 28181 N. West Street in Canton. 

After years of discussions and negotiations the Lincoln County Commission approved a $54,800,000 bond and are set to break ground on a new 40-acre Lincoln County Justice Center in Canton. 

During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, court cases became back logged around the state and Lincoln County was no exception. 

With the added increase of residents to the county, the Lincoln County Commission began discussions on a new Justice Center to add more courtroom space and eventually adding all Lincoln County court operations to the new facility. 

“It was ultimately decided during the December 9, 2022 Lincoln County Board of Commissioners’ meeting that we should plan for our future growth by building a new justice center campus and during that meeting, the Commission passed a bond of $54,800,00 to cover the costs related to acquiring land and developing the new Lincoln County Justice Center,” said Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Jim Jibben. 

The Lincoln County Justice Center will be located west of the current courthouse in Canton on a 40-acre campus northwest of Highway 18 and North West Street. 

“Access to the Justice Center will be off of North West Street and another access point that is yet to be determined,” Jibben said. 

Ongoing conversations have been had during recent Commissioner meetings to find a second access point to the facility.

The Commission agreed that having a small team would be the best approach in making decisions on the new Justice Center and appointed Chairman Jibben and Commissioner Tiffani Landeen to work with the project leaders. 

“Commissioner Landeen along with myself make the day-to-day decisions regarding the construction project along with our project manager, TEGRA Group, our general contractor, Henry Carlson Construction, LLC, our architect JLG Architects and our designer, DLR Group with assistance from Stockwell Engineering,” Jibben said.

The team has designed the facility to be aesthetically pleasing for years to come. 

“The new Lincoln County Justice Center is not designed in a particular architectural style. To ensure a timeless design, the design team referenced traditional civic architectural elements such as a stair tower, a defined entry with a multi-story colonnade, and refined exterior and interior detailing. The exterior features the use of an architectural precast envelope with neutral color tones to resemble natural stone and create a sense of permanence. Natural wood and simulated wood elements are used on the exterior and interior to add warmth to the building,” Jibben said. 

The inside of the building will share many of the same elements as the outside. 

“The interior color scheme is inspired by the regional landscape and locally found agate rocks. In the end, the design is a balance of traditional architectural elements and locally inspired details that help create a timeless design that connects the new courthouse to its place,” he said.

The design process for the three-story building is being finalized by the team and plans for each floor are taking shape. 

“Initially, there will be an arraignment courtroom on the ground floor and three courtrooms and a hearing room on the second floor once the facility is open. Adjacent to the hearing room on the second floor are two multipurpose rooms that could also be used as hearing rooms in the future. The third floor will have two completed courtroom shells that will be readily available for finishing work as the court expands in the coming years. And there is additional office space on the third floor that could always be converted to three additional courtrooms in the decades to come. If that needs to occur, additional office space can be regained, and even more courtrooms can be added by expanding the building to the east as the building design will allow for that flexibility,” Jibben said. 

Accessibility is a major need for the facility, both in terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and in having a place for jury assembly. 

“One new amenity that will serve the public at the Lincoln County Justice Center is a jury assembly room. This will allow members of the public to have a convenient and comfortable place to check- in and wait for their court assignment with vending machines and restrooms close by. The new Lincoln County Justice Center will also have an off-street parking lot in front of the building that will provide close and convenient parking along with ADA accommodations and a drop off location at the front of the building,” Jibben said.

The current courthouse is shared between the Second Judicial Circuit and most of the Lincoln County departments office spaces. 

“We have three dedicated courtrooms and the County Board of Commissioners meeting room available as an additional courtroom if needed. Our current courthouse also provides office space for all the judges to include their chambers along with the office space for their judicial services staff and the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s operations,” Jibben said. 

With backlogged court cases and new cases being added daily, space in the current courthouse is becoming increasingly limited.

It is anticipated that all Lincoln County Court operations will eventually be moved to the Lincoln County Justice Center campus, but the time frame for that move is currently unknown. 

“We decided to plan for the future by building a facility that could support up to eight courtrooms and three hearing rooms along with sufficient office space for all related judicial services needed to support those courtrooms and hearing rooms. We anticipate that four of the courtrooms and one hearing room with be completed by the Fall of 2026,” Jibben said.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the new Lincoln County Justice Center will occur at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 28181 N. West Street, Canton, SD 57013. Off-street parking at the site is limited. Due to the uneven ground at the construction site, it is recommended that those who plan to attend wear flat shoes.