Commissioners pause plan for 144‑bed jail expansion, move to hire consultant

The Potter County commissioners on May 12 declined to expand the architectural design scope for a jail addition that staff had proposed increasing from 144 beds to 288 beds, and agreed instead to pursue an independent consultant to define long‑term bed needs and program options.

Mister Giles, who presented the scope change request, said the county’s current population and operating experience made a 144‑bed addition likely to fill quickly. “Today, as we speak, we have 515 male inmates in custody…we are over 100% capacity,” Giles said, outlining facility‑needs assessments and recent daily counts that he said supported a larger planning figure. County staff and the sheriff outlined operational problems tied to overcrowding, including inmates sometimes “sleeping on the floor” and limited ability to perform maintenance when cells are full.

Several elected officials urged caution. One commissioner told colleagues that the county needed a strategic 20‑year plan rather than rushing into an expensive build, and moved to place a consultant RFQ on the next agenda. “I’ll make that motion. I’d like to hire a consultant,” the commissioner said, arguing an outside review could prevent overbuilding or underbuilding. The sheriff and the district attorney stressed that alternatives — such as jail dockets, diversion programs, electronic monitoring, and TDCJ temporary pickups — should be pursued in parallel with planning.

The court did not approve the scope change that day. Instead commissioners directed staff to prepare a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a consultant to analyze detention needs, operational alternatives, and financing options; the consultant solicitation will appear on the next court agenda. The judge also said any final construction plan would likely require voter approval if financing were necessary.