Wednesday, October 2, 2002
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Wednesday, October 2, 2002 |
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Despite delays, new jail addition should be ready by end of year
By JOHN
MUNFORD
Despite delays in construction, Fayette County's new jail addition should still be ready for business by the end of this year. The same cannot be said for the county's new courthouse, which will likely be delayed until the end of February, according to county consulting engineer Jim Mallett. The project had some weather delays in the winter, and a lengthy negotiation process over electrical rates with the power company also slowed progress, Mallett said. The upside, however, is that the project may come in under its $32.5 million budget, Mallett said. "We are very happy with our architect and contractor," Mallett said. The jail expansion will add 384 new beds to the facility and 65,820 sq. ft. of office space for the sheriff's department. The expansion was designed so another addition can be added in the future to double the jail's capacity, Mallett said. Similarly, the courthouse was designed with future growth in mind as the third floor will remain unfinished but at the ready for future growth when more courtroom space is needed, Mallett added. The entire three-floor facility is approximately 150,000 sq. ft., Mallett added. To facilitate the anticipated delay on the courthouse, the county has granted a change order on the original contract giving the extra two months to fully complete the job, Mallett said. The contract encompasses construction of both facilities. The county also plans to refurbish the current courthouse annex for the sheriff's department, and bids for that project will likely go out within the next 30 days, Mallett said.
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