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Owen County commissioners press forward on jail plan, set finance review meeting
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Summary
Commissioners heard a presentation on build-operate-transfer delivery for a new jail and scheduled a jail-only financial review for Friday the 15th to pin down costs and funding options.
Owen County commissioners told jail planners on Tuesday they are moving from study to decisions, scheduling a dedicated financial-review meeting and asking their advisers to firm up costs, scope and funding for a proposed new jail.
Commissioners directed financial adviser Jeff Peters and the jail-building team to return for a meeting “for jail only” on Friday the 15th at 10 a.m., Commissioner (board member) said during a lengthy discussion that centered on delivery methods and budget constraints.
The discussion matters because the county has been collecting a correctional facility tax and a public safety tax intended to fund a new jail, but commissioners said they have not yet committed the full project budget. “We have to find a way to build a jail. Today,” a commissioner said, adding that the current county jail is deteriorating and creates operational and liability risks.
Dustin Fry, president and co-owner of BW Construction, described the build-operate-transfer (BOT) delivery method the company uses and noted BW’s recent work on several county jails. “Our bread and butter and focus on most projects is municipal public safety and jail construction,” Fry told the board. He explained BOT as a qualifications-based selection followed by a scoping period that leads to a guaranteed maximum price for an agreed scope.
Financial adviser Jeff Peters and representatives from BW and other consulting firms will present a fiscal analysis and financing scenarios at the Friday meeting, commissioners said. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized they will design the project to match an achievable budget: “If we can’t finance a jail, we can’t go under contract,” one commissioner said.
Commissioners also asked staff and consultants to clarify whether known site costs — including sewer, electric, road access and any rights-of-way — are included in the current planning budget. Fry said lead times for specialized detention equipment and prefabricated cell modules vary but that an 18-month timeframe from full authorizations to occupancy is feasible if permitting and procurement progress on schedule.
The board closed the discussion by inviting other interested contractors, design teams and the sheriff’s office to attend the follow-up meeting to make sure financing, site costs and the program reflect operational needs.
The meeting was left open for next steps: consultants will return with a financial plan and refined scope, and commissioners said they will decide whether to proceed to contract once they have a definitive budget and financing plan.
