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Law & Justice Building renovation project making headway

Photo is of the new kitchen for the county jail. Food service moved into its renovated space in October.

The county’s $8.7 million construction project that will update the aging plumbing in the Law and Justice Building remains on schedule and on budget, with construction estimated to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

Construction started in March and about 70 percent of the scheduled work is complete, said Brian Travis, maintenance director for Chelan County. The contractor started on the first floor of the five-story, 42-year-old building and has been working his way up. Crews are currently working on the third and fourth floors of the jail, Travis said.

The county’s contractor, McKinstry of Spokane, is replacing all domestic water and sanitary sewer lines and installing a water management system, stainless-steel fixtures in the jail and sensor valves in public areas.

The contractor has been doing heavy work 5 to 9 a.m., trying not to disrupt the fifth floor, home to the Chelan County Prosecutor and the Chelan County Superior Court and Clerk. But visitors may experience some construction noise, Travis said.

Among the project's achievements most recently was the reopening of the kitchen for the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. Staff moved out of the kitchen in late February, moving to a temporary kitchen set up in the old annex portion of the jail. They moved back into the updated kitchen in October.

The kitchen has new flooring and plumbing, and a wall was removed to give staff better viewing of the new bright space, where six to eight of the incarcerated join them daily for meal preparation. The space has new food prepping and dish washing areas and a variety of new equipment.

“We are so happy to be back,” said Joanne Richards, who is the food service lead with Theresa Gooch.

The kitchen staff prepares daily two hot meals and a sack lunch for about 130 incarcerated people. During the kitchen renovation, premade meals ordered from the Department of Corrections were used to feed the jail population. The jail, so far this year, has spent about $95,000 more on food because of the cost of the prepared meals.

The entire project is being paid for with real estate excise tax (REET) dollars. REET is a tax on the sale of real property. Funds distributed to the county can be used on capital projects.

Last Updated: 11/06/2026 08:54 AM

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  • 05
    Dec 2026
    09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Monthly Drop-Off Saturday - Dec. 5, 2026

    Posted by: Solid Waste Management

    Drop-Off Saturday at the Moderate Risk Waste Facility is Dec. 5

    Moderate Risk Waste Facility
  • 24
    Nov 2026
    01:30 PM - 02:00 PM

    Public Meeting: Certify Election

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office
  • 24
    Nov 2026
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office
  • 18
    Nov 2026
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office
  • 12
    Nov 2026
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office