ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County is growing rapidly and that means the need for more facilities to serve and protect residents.
It’s something St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick would like to see happen with the expansion of the sheriff’s office headquarters. Right now, the jail and the headquarters are right next to each other off U.S. 1 and Lewis Speedway, part of a larger county office complex.
Hardwick said Tuesday during a St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners meeting that sheriff’s office employees are currently spread out in different locations and the new plan would help bring all employees under one roof and away from a flood zone.
RELATED: St. Johns County named finalist for first Florida Museum of Black History
The sheriff talked about a proposed $18 million plan that would move the headquarters to an area near State Road 16 and Interstate 95, near where the current training center is. The plan, which was approved to move forward on Tuesday, would be completed by 2027. About $14.5 million would have to be borrowed for the project and the rest of the money would come from debt serviced by sheriff’s office impact fees, the county said.
Hardwick said the jail is also outdated and will need major changes in the coming years. He said he will present a plan to county commissioners sometime in the next year on how to address the jail.
News4JAX spoke with some people who work across the street from where the current jail and sheriff’s office headquarters are.
They said with all of the growth in the area they understand the need for change.
MORE: St. Johns County buys 37 acres of World Golf Village property for $5.5 million
The plan for a new headquarters is part of a five-year public safety plan that also includes the building of four new fire stations, a regional fire training facility and a new tri-county medical examiner’s office. The plan calls for the county to borrow at least $44.1 million.