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Bibb County authorizes up to $34 million for law-enforcement center expansion
Summary
The commission approved a not-to-exceed $34 million allocation for a phased law-enforcement center expansion, describing a roughly 150-bed increase plus additional mental-health and office space and a 14–18 month initial schedule.
The Bibb County Commission authorized a not-to-exceed $34 million allocation to complete a multi-phase expansion and upgrade of the county's law-enforcement center.
Mayor Lester M. Miller said the project will proceed in phases, beginning with parking work and continuing with interior jail expansion. He described the plan as including about a 150-bed expansion, with an additional roughly 20 beds targeted for mental-health needs and about 5,000 square feet of office space requested by the sheriff. "We still have a time frame that we initially said is anywhere from 14 to 18 months," Miller said.
The resolution identifies the funds as coming from the county's 2025 SPLOST public-safety buildings allocation and listed commissioners Cook and Hwitt among sponsors. Commissioners discussed project features, reuse of steel cell components in future facilities and the need for ongoing security planning; the sheriff's office is managing operational components while the commission manages funding.
The measure passed on a motion and second and was sent to the consent agenda.
Why it matters: The allocation commits a substantial local capital balance to correctional and public-safety infrastructure and adds dedicated mental-health bed space intended to improve in-jail behavioral-health capacity. The commission emphasized phased construction to contain costs and limit disruption.
What happens next: Staff will return to commissioners with additional drawings and pricing in coming weeks and proceed with the phased construction schedule as bids and design work are finalized.
