Curry County jail expansion approved

CLOVIS — Curry County commissioners on Wednesday granted approval for ASA Architects to proceed with the design development phase for the expansion and renovation of the county jail.

During the meeting ASA Architects President Ted Shelton presented the schematic design phase to commission members, after which the body agreed to move forward with design of a 96 bed facility, including a medical area.

During Shelton’s presentation, the commission was weighing a plan for a 48-bed expansion, but Commission Vice Chair Chet Spear moved the commission to go for an option doubling the beds.

“We were looking at a 48-bed facility,” he said. “And we’ve learned since our October meeting that the likelihood of having to close the annex is very likely. By expanding our jail by 48 beds and closing the annex, we are actually losing four beds.

“The purpose of the expansion is to actually gain beds. I’m inclined to have you include conversations referencing the 96-bed facility. I don’t believe I can face my constituents and tell them we’ve spent $10 million, but we lost four beds and we’re not going to be able to have the facility we need to have the necessary classifications.”

The vote passed 3-0, with Spear, Ben McDaniel and Wendell Bostwick present. Commissioner Tim Ashley was out of town and Commissioner Angelina Baca was sick.

According to cost estimate figures, there is $10.25 million available for the 48-bed project, which would include three phases. The first phase would encompass a new sally port, new housing cluster and existing building demolition. Phase two would involve renovation and expansion of the pre-booking and holding area while the third phase would include heating and air conditioning renovations, in addition to central control and medical area renovations. Increasing the expansion to 96 beds would be in the neighborhood of an addition $5.5 million, officials said.

“One thing we can say for sure is there’s not going to be a less expensive time to add another 48 beds than today,” Shelton said. “If you wait, you’ll need them someday and might need them sooner rather than later, especially if you’re talking about getting away from your reliance on the annex, which we think is a good plan for the county. It’s (annex) not worth spending a lot of money on or investing in. You don’t have to make the commitment to the construction until we open bids, which allows for time to work with the county administration on potential sources for additional funds.”

Shelton said with the 96-bed facility option, the housing pod would be priced at just under $4 million plus tax in soft costs while the medical unit is about $1.6 million.

“You’re not committing to accepting the bid and building at this point,” he said. “This would be an option available to you when you open bids.”

County Manager Lance Pyle urged the commission to take stock of a variety of considerations with regard to navigating the process.

“This commission has set aside approximately $10 million of remaining bond money for this project,” he said. “We have taken approximately $4 million from general fund dollars and put that in a separate fund for acquisition and renovation for the courthouse. The 48 bed plan is around that $10 million cost, according to estimates. Doing the 96 beds is going to be an extra $5 million. As we move forward, we need to know where you want those funds to come from. How do you want us to pay for the additional? Do we take it from the $4 million set aside for the courts? That’s something that needs to be discussed. This is the largest project the county will undertake in the next 20 years.”