Fond du Lac, WI — I am thinking carefully about the February 17th County Board meeting and the resolution to select Venture Architecture, a Milwaukee-based firm, to complete the jail/justice center schematic design. Venture was chosen over the local firm Excel Engineering at the February 9th Executive Committee meeting, where both firms presented.

Excel is a local, employee-owned company that began in Campbellsport and is headquartered in the City of Fond du Lac. The firm employs approximately 350 people locally, with 20 additional hires expected soon. Excel is a full-service architectural and engineering firm with comprehensive in-house expertise.

Excel designed the Fond du Lac County Highway Garage—the most recent large-scale building project completed by the County in 2019. Prior to that, the County worked with a Milwaukee-based firm that specialized in highway garages for a smaller Campbellsport facility. That process presented challenges, including limited on-site visits.

When planning began for the larger Highway Garage, County Executive Al Buechel chose to hire Excel, even though the firm had never designed a highway garage. He believed investing in a growing local company was worth the risk.

The results speak for themselves. The facility has drawn visitors from across the region, and Excel has since designed and built numerous highway garages. The project succeeded because Excel worked closely with County staff throughout the design process. Being located just minutes away allowed issues to be addressed quickly—an essential factor in keeping construction on schedule. Their design documents were thorough and precise. On a $25 million project, change orders were minimal. Only $200,000 in contingency funds—just 1% of the total cost—were used. Excel demonstrated that it can take on a complex project without prior experience in that facility type and deliver outstanding results.

Why does contracting locally matter?

1. They are our neighbors.

2. Project dollars stay in our local economy. Employees live here, shop here, dine here, purchase vehicles here, and use local services.

3. They pay local taxes, and rising costs affect them just as they affect the rest of us. They understand the community is watching and face reputational risk if a project falls short.

4. Their growth strengthens our County’s economy. Expanding businesses increase the tax base and help ease the burden on other taxpayers.

5. If the County gives Excel this opportunity and the project succeeds, it could open a new line of business for them—positioning our County as a model for addressing complex jail and justice center challenges.

Venture Architecture has been involved in the jail/justice center project since the beginning of the Ad Hoc Committee process. At the February 2025 County Board meeting, when the committee’s recommendation was presented, Supervisors raised several key questions that largely remain unanswered:

1. What will the project cost, and what can we afford?

2. How is our criminal justice system functioning, and can reforms reduce jail admissions or shorten stays?

3. Is a 450-bed facility the appropriate size?

4. What do our citizens think about this project?

At the December 2025 County Board meeting, the Board approved moving forward to obtain firm cost estimates for two potential sites. It was also acknowledged that the 450-bed estimate required validation, and that requirement was included in the schematic design RFP.

At the most recent Executive Committee meeting, it was further recognized that a comprehensive study of Fond du Lac County’s criminal justice system is necessary. Just Us Solutions Group, brought forward by Venture to validate the bed count, recommended conducting a broader evaluation of the justice system. The committee agreed.

The current resolution would award the schematic design contract to Venture Architecture for $161,000. It also includes funding for Just Us Solutions Group to validate the 450-bed estimate and evaluate the justice system, for a total proposed cost of $211,000.

Where do I stand? I believe the process has been flawed. Questions we should have addressed a year ago remain unresolved.

As I understand it, Al Buechel hired our jail consultant, The Samuels Group, before his death. Samuels initiated work with Venture to develop concept designs during the Ad Hoc process. In my view, they did not sufficiently explore or answer questions about downtown site options or present innovative solutions for that location. It left me with the impression that there was too strong a preference for building at the Scott Road site. New construction is often easier. It takes creativity and innovation to evaluate a downtown site and develop workable solutions.

Venture also provided the only cost estimate chart we have seen, which projected a $392 million cost for the full justice center at the Scott Road site.

On Monday, I learned that Venture conducted the only bed study presented to the County. I am encouraged that an independent validation study by a corrections and justice expert is now being proposed. Our contract with The Samuels Group will conclude after the two designs with firm cost estimates are completed and long-awaited public listening sessions are held.

Over the past year, I have been concerned by repeated statements from The Samuels Group that “we don’t know what it will cost,” despite the existence of a cost estimate chart. Providing reliable cost information was a central responsibility of their work. Those conversations left me questioning both the estimating process and the overall coordination of this effort. I am reminded of what Al Buechel did when faced with a seasoned firm and a project that was not progressing smoothly. It may be time to consider new partners.

Excel has offered to complete the schematic design work at no cost. Selecting Excel would allow us to accomplish two important objectives without additional taxpayer expense: obtaining firm cost estimates for two sites and holding public listening sessions.

The remaining questions—how our criminal justice system is functioning and whether 450 beds are truly needed—could be addressed by hiring Just Us Solutions Group for $48,000.

I have not yet decided how I will vote. I want to hear from the public. Your input will guide my vote.

Please take a few minutes to complete my online survey about the selection of Venture Architects over Excel Engineering. https://forms.gle/v5S1iCotM9GT6p856