With the election happening tomorrow, Dallas County residents will make a decision on the newly proposed criminal court building in Adel.

The building is on the ballot for the second straight year, after failing during last year’s general election. Dallas County Attorney Matt Schultz says the bond referendum will ask voters to consider the structure, which costs approximately $60.3 million. 

Schultz acknowledges that he doesn’t know why the bond referendum didn’t pass last year, but believes that there has been better public communication this time around, as he points to the reason the building would benefit central Iowa.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of growth in Dallas County and it’s not stopping. All over the county we are seeing growth, and I can tell you even in my office, we’ve already gone from nine attorneys to 11 attorneys. If you look at the sheriff’s department, the deputies, the number of deputies have increased. All of the cities, including Clive, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, we are seeing a growth in officers being hired and then in even some of the smaller cities in the county.”

District Judge Chuck Sinnard stresses that the county would not abandon the current courthouse in Adel, as it would still be home to all civil matters. Sinnard details that the proposed criminal court building would be a three-story facility that would house two courtrooms, then several Dallas County entities such as the Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Court Services, Department of Corrections Parole and Probation, Criminal Division of the Clerk of Courts, and Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department. 

The measure will be open to vote on tomorrow’s ballot for the city council and school board elections.