By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
CLAY COUNTY — In unincorporated Clay County, between Liberty and Kearney off of 116th Street and State Route 33, ground is already moving and by next week, the building pad should be in place for the new Law Enforcement Resource Center, said Straub Construction President Dan VanDonge.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office Center is expected to open in December 2025 or January 2026.
Clay County Sheriff Will Akin is hoping for December. This is the first major construction project in 25 years for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The official groundbreaking took place Friday, March 7.
Akin told the small group gathered above the site that the facility has been more two decades in the making.
Akin said the training facility will have an indoor shooting range, a classroom with stadium seating that can seat up to 60 students and multi-use space as well as spaces for training in defensive tactics and decision-making.
Akin said in the past, his teams have trained in schools and other educational settings when districts could give time and space to the department. It also will incorporate virtual and augmented reality training. The center will allow personnel to meet the training requirements needed to better serve the growing Clay County community.
“All this training will allow our officers and detention staff to have safer interactions,” he said. “We want our community to know how we are training.”
Eastern Commissioner Jay Johnson also spoke about the excitement of the commission.
“It’s a long time coming,” he said. “I come from a law enforcement background so I know how important training is. I was shocked we didn’t have something like this in Clay County already. This is exceptional.”
Johnson said Clay County is an aspirational community where people want to live and work.
“Underlying all that success is public safety,” he said. “This is a commission that values public safety. … We will have a facility for our department and the region.”
Area police departments will have the chance to use the facility for training as well.
“Today shows our commitment to public safety, and we consider it a priority,” Johnson said.
Piper-Wind Architects Inc. Principal Eric Piper said he is pleased that his company can serve Clay County on this important project.
“I must say the spirit of cooperation has been absolutely stellar,” he said.
Piper praised how quickly this project moved through the various approval stages so efficiently. He also explained the challenges of the indoor shooting range that has required several unique engineering components including special mechanical, lighting and dust collecting systems.
“This will be a functional, cost-effective building designed to be durable and last a long time,” he said. “It will blend in well with the neighborhood. Now the real work begins benefit of all Clay County.”
VanDonge said his team and he take the mission seriously and will advocate and stretch every dollar.
“In two to three short weeks, you will see concrete go in the ground,” he said.
The approximately $8 million project is funded by federal grants, including money from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
The last major construction project for the Sheriff’s Office was the Clay County Detention Center expansion, which opened in 2000.
