At a special called Fiscal Court meeting on Thursday afternoon, magistrates voted to approve bids related to the construction of the expansion project at the Grayson County Detention Center.
Bids were received for 13 areas of construction, ranging from asphalt paving, to equipment and plumbing and mechanical.
Magistrates voted to approve the low bids for each construction area.
In total, the cost estimate to build the addition is $12.5 million and breaks down as follows (with the specified area of work, the company whose bid was selected and cost):
- Asphalt Paving, Scotty’s Contracting & Stone — $199,534.75
- General Trades, Rising Sun Developing — $3,400,000
- Masonry, Knight Masonry and Sons — $1,271,775
- Roofing, Dixie Roofing — $463,400
- Gypsum Board and Ceilings, Bennett’s Carpets — $75,4000
- Detention Equipment, Jails Correctional Products — $1,428,000
- Fire Protection, Landmark Sprinkler — $188,600
- Plumbing and Mechanical, GBMC — $2,420,741
- Electrical, Heartland Electrical — $2,475,800
- Electrical Security and Security — $658,135
Grayson County Jailer Jason Woosley is saving over $300,000 on the wide-ranging project by using inmate labor to complete resilient and resinous flooring work.
Originally, the detention center expansion called for 43,674 square feet of space to be added to the current facility, but Woosley eliminated about 10,000 square feet from the plans after construction bids came in about $5 million more than anticipated.
Woosley said he eliminated “some office and storage space” and one of the most expensive facets of the expansion, a kitchen. He said the current kitchen is large enough to serve the nearly 200 additional inmates, but that more appliances will likely have to be purchased. Woosley also eliminated a pre-engineered metal building, classroom and recreation yard from the expansion plans.
The jailer did note that only a few of the over 200 new beds were cut from the new expansion plans (199 beds will now be added), which will still allow the female jail population to be moved to the detention center’s main campus on Shaw Station Road. After the expansion is complete, the number of beds at the GCDC will be well over 700.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the detention center on May 14 at 10:00 a.m.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
