Grant County opens new jail facility with ribbon cutting ceremony

“We’re trying to forecast what this looks like 30 or 40 years down the road. This facility has the ability to double in capacity.” 

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy of Corrections Phillip Coats  

EPHRATA — Grant County officials, staff and community members gathered Wednesday to mark the completion of the county’s new jail facility, a project years in the making that leaders say represents a major investment in public safety and the future of the justice system. 

During the June 17 ribbon cutting, speakers emphasized the scale of the project and the collaboration required to bring it to completion, with Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines framing the effort as one built on long-standing relationships. 

“This project really started back in 2019,” Gaines said. “The sheriff spent a year doing town halls to make the case for a sales tax increase and investing in public safety, that took time and it took trust.” 

Gaines described the facility as the result of cooperation between county departments, elected officials, contractors, and the community itself. 

“Through it all, the citizens of Grant County showed patience,” he said. “This facility is for all of us; it’s for all of you.” 

The new jail was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, an outcome county leaders highlighted as uncommon for a project of its size. Gaines noted that the project’s change orders remained below 3%, calling it “exceedingly rare” for the construction industry. 

Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete described the opening as both surreal and humbling, reflecting on the rapid progression from planning to completion. 

“I feel like we just put shovels in the ground last week,” Kriete said. “To see this building, it’s incredible. It’s a great day for the community of Grant County.” 

Kriete credited strong community support and a unified project team for the smooth process and cost savings. 

“Everybody had the same goal in mind, and that was the community,” he said. “When you have that in the forefront, it makes the rest of the process flow so well.” 

The sheriff also emphasized that the facility is designed with long-term needs in mind. While it includes 512 beds initially, it has the infrastructure to expand in the future. 

“This isn’t just for today,” Kriete said. “It’s built for the next 40 years. That was a big investment, and quite frankly, our community deserves the best that we can give them.” 

Chief Deputy of Corrections Phillip Coats said opening the facility marked a significant moment for corrections staff, particularly in terms of safety and working conditions. 

“If words can explain it, it’s a very humbling feeling,” Coats said. “This has been a several-year process, and we’re not done yet.” 

Coats highlighted that the facility was intentionally designed to improve both staff safety and mental well-being, incorporating features such as natural light, dedicated workspaces away from inmate housing areas and expanded break areas. 

“We really want to invest into our staff,” he said. “If we don’t take care of our staff, then we can’t expect them to take care of the public.” 

The facility also includes a fitness center and improved medical and mental health spaces, including an infirmary designed to handle inmates experiencing health crises or withdrawal. 

“We have the sickest population in the county, and now we have a place to better accommodate their needs,” Coats said. 

The new jail represents a significant step up from the county’s previous facility, which originally opened with 80 beds and later expanded to about 180. 

The new building not only increases capacity but also greatly expands intake and booking capabilities. Coats said the number of holding cells has increased from three to about 15, helping reduce bottlenecks that previously limited law enforcement’s ability to book inmates. 

“We’re trying to forecast what this looks like 30 or 40 years down the road,” Coats said. “This facility has the ability to double in capacity.” 

Kriete added that the entire layout has been redesigned for efficiency, from intake to release. 

“The better question is what’s the same, and there’s nothing,” he said. “It’s like pushing restart for everybody.” 

Despite the celebratory tone, officials cautioned that the jail is not yet fully operational. Staff training remains a key priority before inmates are transferred to the new facility. 

“Training, training, training,” Coats said. “This is a very unique design, the only jail in the state like this, and our staff is essentially hitting the reset button.” 

Coats said the training process has been “bumpy” but productive, allowing staff to identify issues before the facility begins housing inmates. 

“It’s stressful, but that’s a good thing,” he said. “We’re figuring things out now before we move a single body up here.” 

Officials did not provide a firm timeline for when inmates will begin moving into the new facility, noting that it depends on the completion of training and operational testing. 

Leaders said the facility could also serve as a regional hub for training programs, including canine and crisis intervention training, potentially reducing costs while strengthening partnerships with other agencies. 

“This is putting Grant County on the map,” Coats said. “We’re the tip of the spear, and we’re excited for it.” 

As the ribbon cutting concluded, officials reflected on the long path to completion and the community support that made the project possible. 

“This has been a long time coming,” Kriete said. “And I’m honored to be part of it.” 

    Sheriff Joey Kriete (middle) speaks at the ribbon cutting for the new jail facility Wednesday.
  

    Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Moses Lake Police Department officers place the flags outside the jail facility Wednesday as part of the ribbon cutting ceremony.