Jail expansion to be built for $5.47M

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

WAGGONER

After more than a year of planning, meetings and discussion, a contract for construction of the Warren County Jail expansion has been awarded.

After a formal bidding process held at the County Administration Offices yesterday, that included sealed bids from seven contractors, MCG of Nashville won the contract with a low bid of $5.47 million. The bids ranged from MCG’s low bid to a high of $6.39 million from RCR Building Corp., also from Nashville.

Both the Jail Oversight Committee and Purchasing Committee were present for the bidding and met immediately after to award the bid. Jail architect Jim Armstrong said he could have the contracts prepared by Friday, May 2 so MCG could begin groundwork.

Committee members were understandably pleased the long process had finally been completed.

“This is good news,” said Commissioner Gary Prater. “Good news for Warren County.”

“I think it was a really reasonable price,” Commissioner Dennis Waggoner said. “We came in below our $6 million mark, which is going to benefit the taxpayers.”

Commissioner Carl Bouldin noted that both committees were, in Bouldin’s words, “absolutely tickled to death at the price we’re getting the jail built for.”

Kenneth Bratcher, who has been involved with the Jail Oversight Committee in an advisory role almost since its inception, formally resigned from the committee after the bid was awarded because of his affiliation with MCG, the company who won the bid. The committee expressed its appreciation for Bratcher’s expertise.