Posted: 7/5/06
CJC to include basement as part of jail
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Planners for the proposed Houston County criminal justice center (CJC) scaled down the size of the building at the June 26 county board meeting.
Plans now will include a basement as part of the jail portion of the facility, which reduces the overall footprint of the building.
The footprint will determine what goes on the second floor and how to use the current courthouse space, jail planner Dave Prachar said.
Prachar, architect Scott Fettig, and construction manager Barry Badinger discussed the building for about four hours with commissioners and CJC committee members.
A major goal is to have a secure justice center with limited to no access from the current building, Prachar said.
Fettig, from the firm of Klein McCarthy, said he will provide the board with new drawings of the building by late July.
The structure had earlier been estimated at about 70,500 square feet. That size has been criticized in letters to the editor and at public forums. Some people are also upset with its proposed location next to the current courthouse.
County board chairman Kevin Kelleher said the location is now ìlocked inî at that site. The board has acquired adjacent property for the building.
The board hadnít received any feedback on the jail part of the building, but the office space is a concern, Kelleher said.
Planners would not state a square foot estimate for the next set of plans.
No contracts yet
In a related item, the board is close to signing contracts with Klein McCarthy as architect and 3D/I as project manager for the project. This will be done if a review of the contracts by county attorney Rick Jackson is satisfactory.
Prachar said the work that those two firms have provided so far will be worked into the contract. If the contract doesnít go through, the county will be billed for their work, Prachar said.
Barry Badinger, vice president with 3D/I, was at last weekís meeting.
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