Building commission approves $66M for juvenile treatment center

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The Wisconsin Building Commission has approved a $66 million addition to a Madison-area treatment center for juvenile offenders.

The project will add 50 beds to the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center and is seen as a step toward closing the Lincoln Hills School for Boys. The addition would allow the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center to house as many as 30 more boys and 20 girls. Its current capacity is 29 boys.

The Joint Committee on Finance approved the request earlier this month, and the building commission on Wednesday provided authority for construction. The Department of Administration foresees the project being ready for construction bidding this fall.

A news release from Gov. Tony Evers’ office said the building commission approved a total of $86.7 million in statewide construction projects on Wednesday, including improvements to these correctional centers around the state:

• Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility: Will receive more than $9.4 million to replace the building’s ventilation system.
• Stanley Correctional Institution in Chippewa County: Will have $481,000 for preliminary plans and a design report for the construction of a new building that will provide health, psychological, dental, therapeutic and lab services to inmates.
• Mendota Mental Health Institute: Will have $950,000 in building trust funds to complete preliminary plans and a design report for food-service renovations.

The other approved projects included work related to building improvements and maintenance, flood mitigation and energy. Follow @WLJReporter