Halifax County authorizes negotiation with Moseley Architects for new detention center design; commissioners discuss costs and overcrowding

Halifax County commissioners on Dec. 2 authorized staff to negotiate with Moseley Architects for architectural and engineering services for a proposed new detention center.

Assistant County Manager Thomas Everett presented the qualifications-based selection process staff used and recommended Moseley Architects as the firm to negotiate with. Everett told the board that the recommended step was to negotiate a contract and then return to the board with a proposed contract and a funding request; staff would seek appropriation of funds before any contract would be executed.

Commissioners pressed staff about how the county would pay for the project. Everett and County Manager Dia Benton said staff would initially seek design-authorization funding likely from fund balance and would later present budget scenarios and funding options for construction, which could include bonds, USDA financing or other debt instruments. Benton noted debt service due to roll off in 2026 could influence capacity to borrow and that a future tax impact was possible depending on the project scope.

Several commissioners urged caution and asked for early clarity on project cost. Commissioner Webb said the county needed to be “forward thinking” about how to pay and avoid starting work without a clear plan. Commissioner Barrett asked what distinguished Moseley from other firms; staff said Moseley has specialized experience designing detention centers in North Carolina and cited the Granville County design as an example the team found efficient.

Commissioner Webb and County Attorney Rollins described operational pressures driving the project. Rollins said Halifax County’s jail population had been about 190 while the facility is rated to house about 85; he added that 40–50 inmates are routinely housed in other counties, at a cost to Halifax County. Rollins said the county currently pays about $50 per day for each inmate housed out of county.

Board discussion covered potential project scale and cost. The county’s financial adviser previously presented scenarios for $30 million, $40 million and $50 million projects; Benton said the board should consider those scenarios and set a budget limit to guide design. Commissioners also discussed service elements — mental-health and reentry services, court programs such as drug court and “jail court” — as part of planning to reduce recidivism.

Commissioner Webb moved to authorize staff to negotiate a contract with Moseley Architects; Commissioner Silver seconded. The motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Benton and staff said they would return with a proposed contract, cost estimate and funding plan, and the board requested monthly updates on jail population, out-of-county housing costs and project planning.

Clarifying details cited in the meeting: - Staff said they used a qualifications-based selection process (architects do not bid lump-sum fees at the qualifications stage). - County Attorney Rollins said an executed contract would require an appropriation and pre-audit prior to signature. - Rollins reported average daily jail population of about 190 (capacity cited as 85) and that 40–50 inmates are housed in other counties; out-of-county housing costs were cited at roughly $50 per inmate per day.

The motion authorized negotiation only; no construction contract or appropriation was approved at the Dec. 2 meeting.