Final jail inspection? Time will tell
Published 1:44 am Tuesday, May 10, 2016
What could be the final inspection of an addition to the county jail is set for this morning.
A March inspection billed as a “final inspection” netted a punch list of issues to address. Commission members, Sheriff Dennis Meeks, and a number of contractors, architects, engineers, and building officials participated that day.
In a workshop meeting Monday morning, commissioners agreed that no one person would “sign off” that the project was done, but the commission would act on it in its Wednesday meeting if it appears all of the punch list items have been completed. Of concern in the March inspection was a crack in the concrete floor, and commissioner expressed more concern about that Monday.
“If the floor were tiled or had carpet, you’d never know it,” county maintenance supervisor Kevin Kennedy said, adding that the engineers have examined the crack and believe it will not worsen.
The original plans for the addition, drawn by PH&J Architects of Montgomery, were for a 42-bed, two-cell block facility that includes a nurse’s station, washroom and storage area. Each cell block has two showers, two sinks, and two toilets. Plans were later modified for only 38 bunks. The facility was planned to provide additional space to house female inmates.
The construction bid was awarded in April of 2014.