That big hole in the ground on West Beau Street behind the courthouse will start to fill up soon. Commissioner Nick Sherman addressed the project at the Local Municipal Briefing and stated that construction on the new public safety building will begin October 19. Sherman says that the 3 story $40 million project is contractually mandated to be completed in 460 days. That puts the completion date at the beginning of 2028. Sherman addressed concerns about pyrite, that many blame as the major reason the Courthouse Square building was compromised. He says that the whole city of Washington is built on pyrite. The key is to channel water away from the building so that the pyrite that exists does not freeze and thaw against building concrete, then causing damage. He says support walls from the old building that will be used in the new building have been shored up preventing that. Sherman says the three story building will house the sheriff’s office and the 9-1-1 emergency center. A third floor that was originally designated as a booking center will now be used as a court relations area. Operations such as DUI classes, psychiatric evaluations, mental health evaluations and drug and alcohol evaluations will be conducted there. Sherman says that simultaneously, the county’s 9-1-1 emergency radio communications system is scheduled to be completed at the same time.