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Barry County committee recommends $42,000 contract for jail master plan study
Summary
On Feb. 4 the Barry County Committee of the Whole voted to recommend a professional services agreement with Abonmarche Byce to develop a Jail Master Plan, a step officials said is needed to guide replacement of the county jail; the proposal is for up to $42,000 from the Building Rehabilitation Fund.
The Barry County Committee of the Whole voted Feb. 4 to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve a professional services agreement with Abonmarche Byce to prepare a Jail Master Plan to guide replacement of the Barry County Jail.
County Administrator Eric Zuzga introduced the proposal, and Commissioner David Hatfield moved — with support from Commissioner Catherine Getty — to recommend the contract at a cost not to exceed $42,000, to be paid from the Building Rehabilitation Fund. The Committee recorded unanimous support; the motion passed "all ayes." The recommendation goes to the full Board of Commissioners for final approval.
The study is described in the proposal as a master plan to evaluate replacement options for the existing county jail. During public comment, Joel Ibbotson of Irving Township said he favored hiring Abonmarche Byce to complete the plan, noting the firm by name to the Committee. Additional public comment from Mark Doster (Prairieville Township) raised the possibility of renting jail beds to other counties as one revenue option and discussed durability choices for the COA facility roof.
Commissioners framed the issue as a community matter touching on public safety and public information. Commissioner David Hatfield said the jail affects community safety, and Commissioners Bruce Campbell and Jon Smelker emphasized the need to keep the public informed about the project's location, cost and design. Chair David Jackson announced that commissioners would tour the current jail after the meeting.
Next steps: the Committee recommended the Abonmarche Byce agreement to the Board of Commissioners for final action. No final Board vote on the contract is recorded in the Committee minutes; the Committee vote is a recommendation to the Board.
