FORT KENT, Maine — Aroostook County Commissioners voted on Wednesday to begin contract negotiations with SMRT Architects & Engineers for new jail design and architectural services.
The firm, with locations in Bangor, Portland, New York and Massachusetts, will help The County through public and technical aspects of the project, which is currently in a preliminary stage.
Built in 1889, the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton was last renovated 40 years ago. National Institute of Corrections consultants said in 2024 the building is unsafe, overcrowded and lacks adequate security, and urged officials to consider building a new structure.
But as Penobscot County is finding out, projected costs to build new are prohibitive. Ongoing talks about a new Penobscot jail have estimated the cost at anywhere from $70 million to $80 million. Aroostook’s project could cost up to $90 million, planners said in June.
In choosing SMRT, commissioners cited positive references, a record of on-time delivery, substantial experience in Maine construction projects and lower pre-referendum costs. Interim Aroostook County Administrator Dana Gendreau recommended the firm based on references that it made the process easy and streamlined while keeping everyone involved.
“Given the complexity of jail planning, site selection, and referendum preparation, SMRT demonstrated an ability to guide diverse stakeholders through unfamiliar capital processes, representing meaningful risk reduction for Aroostook County,” Gendreau said.
Commissioner Paul Underwood said SMRT has their “finger on the pulse.” The firm has designed facilities like the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, and the owners have been happy with the results, he said.
Underwood added that SMRT would not only design but assist officials with the referendum and site location process and would also help determine a cost estimate for the project.
The County formed a jail commission in 2024 to explore the possibility of building a new jail, including representatives from law enforcement, municipal government, legal and social work. Police and officials from consulting firm Justice Planners have suggested having the jail in Houlton is inconvenient, and commissioners are also exploring moving the jail to a more central Aroostook location.
That would require approval from the public via a referendum, former Aroostook County Administrator Ryan Pelletier said at that time.
On Wednesday, commissioners voted to table a decision to add a referendum to the June ballot asking voters if they would approve considering a location outside of Houlton for the new facility. The vote would not be to move the jail, but to give planners the option to consider a move.
But County officials learned that the referendum would need to be site-specific, Jandreau said.
Also on Wednesday, Aroostook County Sheriff Peter Johnson recommended in a letter that the commissioners consider cost and staffing comparisons over the course of multiple years between a Houlton or outside facility, citing the current lack of available cost comparisons between expanding services in Houlton or pursuing development of an outside facility.
Gendreau said the sheriff articulated concerns well, and that those will all be eventually brought to the attention of the design firm as they move forward in the process.