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Cass County jail addition delayed after defective electronic locks and other construction problems
Summary
County staff told commissioners that a subcontractor-produced lock system was manufactured incorrectly and is being rebuilt by the vendor; the change, plus drainage and HVAC issues, has delayed staff training and pushed back opening timelines.
County project staff told the Cass County building committee on record that the county’s jail addition has been delayed by multiple construction problems, most immediately a defective electronic locking system that the product vendor is reworking on-site.
A county project lead said the lock manufacturer sent a lead technician and several technicians to the site from Alabama to perform repairs after the vendor was alerted; by a Friday update they had completed about 75% of the work and returned the following day to continue progress. "These locks were manufactured incorrectly," the project lead said, adding that about 36 locks remained to be fixed in J Pod and other support areas. Gene, a county construction staffer, said many of the affected locks also had incorrect hosing and a few wiring issues, and that installing the correct hoses should alleviate the failures.
The sheriff told the committee that staff training cannot begin until the locks are functioning; deputies plan a two-week training cycle for the facility. "We're kind of in a standstill till they get these locks finished up," the sheriff said, while noting the county has not denied any admissions and currently has about 20 people at other facilities and an operating population that varies between roughly 300 and 320.
Project staff said the county is withholding a substantial payment to the subcontractor responsible for the security work while fixes are completed; the project lead said the withheld amount is in excess of half a million dollars. Staff also reported other construction issues — poor floor drainage in five first-floor cell showers requiring technical fixes that avoid full demolition, outstanding sprinkler connections and an HVAC air-return problem popping ceiling tiles — that will require additional contractor or engineering work and could extend the timeline further.
Commissioner Capitan said the problems underscore the need for stronger contract terms, suggesting penalty clauses in future bids. County leaders said deputies from the state’s attorney’s office are reviewing alternatives to the standard AIA contract form to favor owner protections.
Next steps identified in the meeting excerpt included: on-site completion of the lock rework by the product vendor, engineering review for HVAC/air-return fixes, and continued retention of disputed payments until satisfactory completion. The committee did not record a final vote on any of these items in the excerpt.
