The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners received an update and progress report on the new Judicial District 19 Medical Examiner Facility at the Feb. 27 commission meeting.

The new facility is a joint project by the Medical Examiner’s Office, Okeechobee County, St. Lucie County, Indian River County and Martin County.

In 2022, the Medical Examiner’s Office received a $1 million state grant to cover the costs of planning and design of a new facility to replace their overcrowded, outdated building. The entire project is expected to cost more than $10 million.

“Medical examiner’s offices are much more than just a morgue,” said Johnny Lohrum, with JL1 Architecture. The building will include administrative spaces, an enclosed sallyport to bring decedents through privately and securely. Equipment will include a full body scanner which will save time and costs compared to individual x-rays.

Plans also call for a room for meeting with family of the deceased.

Backup generators will ensure the building can sustain itself for multiple days in an emergency.

 The new building will be 25,064 square feet, more than doubling the size of the existing facility which was built in 1975.

The building will be located on corner of Kirby and Holm Road in Fort Pierce on property owned by Indian River State College and leased for the next 40 years at $1 per year.

Each of the four counties in the 19^th Judicial Circuit provides money for the Medical Examiner's budget, based on the number of deaths and the number of autopsies completed.