Yuba County sheriff's new home could cost up to $11 million

Beginning construction for a new Yuba County Sheriff's Department is about six months away, county officials told the board of supervisors Tuesday.

If work begins by August on an existing Marysville building, said county Administrative Services Director Doug McCoy, the department should be open for business on Yuba Street in less than a year's time.

"I should caution we're still in a very preliminary phase here," McCoy said during his presentation, noting the project could go out to bid as soon as May. "Our drawings are very early."

But the design work being done now should clarify the project's exact cost, he said, adding he expects it to be on the high side of the $7 million to $11 million range.

When finished, the department will occupy about 46,000-square feet of the building's 56,000-square feet, with the extra space meant to accommodate future growth.

The public will enter the department on what will actually be the second floor, McCoy said. And a 167-foot radio tower will be erected next door.

Supervisor Hal Stocker, noting the project was within Marysville city limits, asked whether the tower would cause any concerns for city officials.

"I take it the city of Marysville is aware of everything here?" he asked McCoy. "You say the county has the authority to do this?"

McCoy said the county did.

Sheriff Steve Durfor said the department now is occupying about the same square footage in the county courthouse, but in a much less organized and customer friendly way.

"The really big question this will ultimately rest on is getting the numbers in and seeing how much this will cost us," Durfor said. "We're truly getting to the point of converting every square foot of space into something usable for the Sheriff's Department."