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Liberty County commissioners approve jail repair work after contractor flags life‑safety fan failures
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Summary
Commissioners heard a detailed update on ongoing Liberty County Jail repairs, approved several related purchases and contracts, and authorized a nearly $1.0 million roof‑fan replacement after engineers described nonfunctional smoke/exhaust fans and extensive duct and wiring corrosion.
Liberty County’s commissioners on April 14 accepted an update on continuing repairs at the county jail and approved a series of procurement items tied to those repairs, including a large‑scale roof‑fan replacement estimated at $995,834.22.
Project manager Mike Carroll told the court the West End fire detection system is fully operational and that HVAC and exterior camera work on the West End have been completed, but the East End and purge systems still need work. Carroll said crews have found cut wiring and other issues above ceilings that have delayed testing and that work to restore full fire detection across the facility is expected in the coming weeks.
Carroll and Gordian representative Danielle Smith described a broader discovery during the fire‑safety commissioning: 42 roof and exhaust fans across the jail were nonfunctional, with significant corrosion to ductwork and components. The county’s proposal calls for crane lifts, electrical reconnections, duct repairs and multiple system commissionings (HVAC, fire alarm and building automation). "We had to reverse‑engineer the system to find these issues," Smith said, explaining that some components are rusted from coastal exposure.
Commissioners discussed budget and scope questions, including what remains of the jail repair budget and potential unknown contingencies during replacement. Auditor and commissioners requested staff provide a percent‑complete estimate and remaining cost breakdown at the next meeting. Despite concerns about cost overruns, the court voted to move forward, with one commissioner characterizing the work as a likely life‑safety priority that must be addressed.
The court also approved several discrete purchases tied to jail operations and construction: a scheduled payment of $448,000 to DRG Architects LLC for design work on a new jail (RFQ 2512); a turnkey purchase of a walk‑in freezer and services for the jail for $104,045.69 through an existing contract; and the replacement of the county’s inmate cable provider using commissary funds (a separate item covered by the sheriff’s office).
County staff were directed to return with more detailed accounting of what has been completed, remaining tasks and projected remaining costs. The court recorded the approvals and will revisit the jail project budget as updates arrive.
