Jail expansion studies set
Core drillings are set to take place to determine if land adjacent to the current jail is fit for expansion.
The Smith family, which owns the wooded land, has given approval for the Jail Committee to have the core drillings done. Geo Science Design has been contacted about the job, which will require drilling 11 different holes. County Executive Carol Hamblen indicated an exact price has not been determined but said, “all indications are it will be less than $5,000.”
“If the land is not suitable, we need to know now in case we have to drop back and punt,” said Hamblen.
It was also determined during the Jail Committee’s Monday meeting architect Jim Armstrong would have a contract ready for the committee in time for its next meeting this Monday, March 10.
Discussion also centered on hiring an on-site manager to oversee jail construction. The on-site manager would be a county employee and someone with construction experience. The person would be on the jail site daily.
“It’s basically a person who would serve as a go between for commissioners and contractors,” said Hamblen. “The person would make sure a timeline is followed, report to the County Commission, make sure proper tests were done and so forth.”
Hamblen said she has a “good idea” about who the person might be, but says she is awaiting funding approval before making an announcement. The Jail Committee must make a request to the Budget and Finance Committee for salary money to be created.
As far as actually borrowing money for the jail project, that still appears several months away. While stressing they don’t want to spend more than $6 million, commissioners don’t have a ball park figure on how much the new facility will cost. When a closer figure is made available, commissioners will proceed down that avenue.