Rusk County jail expansion one step closer

With a budget in the neighborhood of $16 million, Rusk County officials are one step closer to the long-awaited and much-needed expansion of the county jail facility.

Bill Hale, Rusk County Pct. 1 commissioner, said the expansion project includes a threestory addition.

The expansion and renovation cost estimate includes possible construction fees, architectural fees, roof work on the sheriff 's department and a general upgrade to the existing jail.

The jail currently houses a maximum of 96 inmates. The addition will house 192 more prisoners.

In addition to housing more inmates, the expansion will also move Bob Richardson, Pct. 5 justice of the peace, to a secondfloor courtroom and justice center.

Gary Adams, jail consultant, said one unique and interesting feature is a secured elevator that runs directly from the jail area to holding cells outside of the courtroom.

"The public will never even see any inmates until they are brought into the courtroom," Adams said.

Hale said this is a much safer method of inmate movement.

"Inmates will no longer be transported across the street for court proceedings," Hale said. "The county district courts may also utilize the courtroom for its cases."

Commissioners are discussing issuing certificates of obligation payable over 15 years to pay for the jail.

Commissioners approved a 3.9-cent property tax increase to allow the county to expand the jail. This rate hike is expected to be short-term.

Earlier this week, commissioners named Nacogdochesbased J.E. Kingham, construction manager at risk, to oversee the county's estimated $16 million jail expansion project. Commissioners are expected to officially hire the firm at their next meeting.

Hale said the county has to work out a contract with the company before the official hiring. He said if contract negotiations fail, the commissioners would select from the other two firms that submitted proposals.

"We are in the process of doing that now," Hale said.

Adams said the paperwork should be complete by the next commissioners' court meeting. Adams also said the jail should be under construction by Late November or early December. Two other construction firms, Berry and Clay of Rusk, and Harrison, Walker and Harper of Paris, also submitted proposals.

Hale said commissioners choose Kingham because of experience in the construction of area jails.

County officials formed a construction committee in 2007 after the Texas Commission on Jail Standards notified the sheriff's office that the jail was overcrowded.

"I have been working on this project since the committee was formed," Hale said. "I am just glad to see it get off the ground."

Hale said his time on the committee has shown him just how difficult it is to keep jail occupancy numbers down.

"Now is the time for this expansion," Hale said. "If we don't we will either overload the jail, have to out-source inmates at a cost of $35 to $40 daily, or keep free some of those that should be jailed."