Contractor: New Marshall County jail 20.8% complete; first-floor slab near finish

Martin Covey Construction told the Marshall County Commission on Oct. 22 that the county’s new jail is progressing, with main building footings finished and the first-floor concrete slab about 90% poured.

The contractor said the first floor will total roughly 40,000 square feet, with about 3,500 square feet remaining for the kitchen slab. Masonry work across the project is approximately 25% complete, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in continues in the walls and under the kitchen floor.

“Once that slab gets poured this Friday, we’ll start setting those door frames next week,” Kevin, the contractor’s representative, said as he summarized the schedule and sequencing.

Kevin said crews encountered some poor soils at the Sally Port area that have been removed and backfilled; undercut and backfill there are near completion. He reported the project is about 20.8% complete based on paid applications and that the team has submitted eight pay applications so far.

The contractor also addressed project contingency and change orders. He said 16 change orders exist and roughly $95,000 of change-order work has been approved from an available $100,000 contingency. “Some of that has to do with design issues, and some of it is just improvements on the drawings,” he said.

There was no further staff request for additional funds or new change-order approvals during the update. The commission offered thanks to the contractor and had no substantive questions beyond scheduling and finance clarifications.

The commission did not take further action on the construction update; staff said they had financials available if commissioners wanted a detailed review.