Board approves phase 1 design–build contract to convert former school building into sheriff's office

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners voted July 7 to approve a phase 1 design–build contract with Beam Construction to convert a former sixth-grade building and cafeteria into a consolidated Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

Aubrey Clay presented the project, saying phase 1 covers pre-construction design services, a roof allowance, and utility separation work to create dedicated gas, water and sewer service for the new facility. Clay told the Board the facility conversion will consolidate divisions of the Sheriff's Department under a single roof and support an upcoming remodel of the county detention center.

Clay said the project is being delivered as a fixed-price design–build because the county has a tight budget for this work. "This project will be fully funded through legislative grant funds with no local tax dollars," Clay said.

County staff and commissioners discussed timing. The contractor expects to begin roof work within weeks; county staff said they are coordinating this project's schedule with the detention-center remodel so administrative staff can be relocated while detention work proceeds.

Motion and outcome: The Board approved the phase 1 design–build contract with Beam Construction and authorized the project to proceed. The motion was offered by a commissioner during the meeting and was seconded; the Board voted in favor with no recorded opposition.

Ending: County staff said the work on the former school building will also provide secure, climate-controlled evidence storage and allow construction on the detention center to proceed with fewer operational disruptions.