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Commission hears jail construction update; inmate move date, parking and billing issues discussed
Summary
County staff reported the jail project is nearing finishing work, discussed inmate move timing, parking reductions tied to retention pond, water-meter billing errors, cooling options and pending change orders.
County staff updated the Cheatham County Commission Sept. 15 on progress at the new jail and related operational matters, saying interior finishing work is underway and staff are preparing for an inmate transfer this autumn.
A staff speaker described the project as in a late construction phase and said the county plans to move inmates in November, mentioning both Nov. 10 and Nov. 20 during the discussion. The project team also said change orders have been submitted and that the final total cost remains being tallied.
Construction details discussed included a retention pond that reduced available parking by an estimated 10 to 12 spaces and installation of a French drain to address a spring under the parking area. Staff reported compaction tests passed and that surface water now discharges to the main spillway.
The commission also discussed an unexpectedly large water bill for the facility. Staff said a newly installed meter reported usage per gallon while the city billed per 100 gallons, effectively multiplying the billed usage by 100; the meter showed 22,000 gallons used while the city's billing cycle showed 2,200,000 gallons. Staff said the city is correcting the billing and that the county is pursuing a refund or credit.
Commissioners and staff compared mechanical systems for the building. Project staff described cooling towers as a lower-upfront-cost option and said they would require peak evaporation of about 4 to 5 gallons per minute during extreme heat. Staff said geothermal (water-source heat pumps) is more expensive initially but may pay for itself over time; one staff speaker characterized cooling towers as roughly a "million dollars cheaper." The workshop record shows discussion of operational water use and that decisions on final mechanical systems and remaining change orders remain pending.
No formal decisions were made at the workshop; staff said they will provide updated cost totals and timing details to the commission as they become available.
