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Roof, HVAC and surveillance upgrades at George W. Hill jail now expected in January
Summary
Officials told the Delaware County Jail Oversight Board that the roof/HVAC repair timeline slipped from December to January and that the electronic security and surveillance project’s first phase should be completed by early January, including perimeter upgrades, new radios and a new master control area.
Delaware County corrections leadership reported on Sept. 9 that two major capital projects at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility — a roof repair and HVAC replacement, and an electronic security and surveillance upgrade — remain underway and now have completion milestones in January 2026.
Deputy Chief Wharton Bonds said the roof repair and HVAC replacement project was “moving along quite well” but that the final housing-unit work originally scheduled for completion in December has been pushed into January “due to some additional work that was not anticipated originally.”
On the electronic security and surveillance project, Bonds said the facility is about four months into the work and expects “phase 1 will be completed by early January,” which the facility views as a major milestone. “When phase 1 is completed, we will have our major upgrade to our exterior or perimeter security. We will have a new radio system and new radios in place. We will have one housing unit that’s up and running with the new cameras, new locking mechanisms, new showers, pretty much the whole nine. We’ll have a new master control area up and running,” Bonds said.
Board members asked about testing and how the renovated housing unit would be repopulated. Bonds said vendor testing is already underway and that the facility will sweep units for tools or contraband and run its own tests before repopulating. Staff training on new panels and locks will be completed in advance and likely continue for about a week after turnover. “We do have the space, so we’re not gonna rush it. We’re gonna make sure that everything’s in place and in order before we move any incarcerated people onto that unit,” Bonds said.
The board heard that the security phase includes new cameras, locking mechanisms and showers for at least one housing unit; a new master control area; and upgraded perimeter systems and radio communications. Leadership did not provide a final budget update in the meeting minutes for either project.
Ending — Facility leadership said they will continue to update the board monthly as testing and installations proceed and as more precise turnover dates are set for each renovated unit.
