Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Jail Certification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Meigs County commissioners agree to advertise RFQ as jail recertification, timeline and costs discussed
Summary
County commissioners discussed advertising a request for qualifications for jail work, potential decertification risks, possible use of the jail reserve to pay expenses, and a multi-year timeline for design and construction.
Meigs County commissioners said they will move forward to advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ) for work tied to the county jail after a discussion about certification, costs and timing.
The discussion came as commissioners expressed concern that the county could face decertification of its jail this year and examined where any incurred expenses would come from. "We're gonna go forward with this and advertise it," one commissioner said, adding that the RFQ would be advertised in August.
Why it matters: Commissioners said decertification could force the county to house inmates elsewhere at a substantial cost and that upgrades would take years to complete. One commissioner raised a cost example, saying, "That $50 prisoner, 50 prisoners, that's $910,000 a year," to illustrate the potential ongoing expense of sending inmates out of county if the facility is decertified.
Commissioners described next steps as seeking qualified firms through an RFQ and working with the state on certification. A commissioner said the sheriff will need to travel to Nashville to meet with the committee that oversees certification and "show the progress that's being made," and that reestablishing certification would depend on demonstrating that progress.
Timing and scope: Participants estimated the program from design to finished construction would take roughly three years. One commissioner summarized the schedule as about a year for design and engineering followed by 18 months to two years for construction.
Discussion points included whether to renovate the existing facility or add beds to meet certification standards. One commissioner urged the county to provide clear direction to designers so bids would reflect a definite scope: "So you get a real metric price. You get 3 prices, at least," the commissioner said, describing the procurement approach of producing full plans and taking competitive bids.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript; commissioners framed the item as a direction to advertise an RFQ and to continue working with the state on certification.
Ending: Commissioners set an advertising timeline for the RFQ and asked staff and the sheriff's office to continue coordination with the state certification committee. The transcript did not record a formal motion or vote on funding for construction or renovation.
