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Additional jail funds taken from library

Commissioners to consider moving library to old jail site

By Lisa Majors-Duff
A new jail facility, complete with $500,000 worth of extras, is in Jackson County's future.

County commissioners voted unanimously last week to add $500,000 to the jail/Sheriff's Department project by taking that amount from the public library expansion project. The extra money will be used to build a law enforcement-only access road to the jail at the Justice Center, replace the parking that will be lost and construct the facility to accommodate a second floor in the future.

Commissioners learned of the need for extra funds at their regular meeting Feb. 3. Representatives of Barge Waggoner, an architectural firm from Knoxville, Tenn., told the board a new 60-bed jail could be built with the $4.35 million set aside, but the extras could not be included.

The new facility will be approximately 26,000 square feet on one level and include Sheriff's Department administrative offices. It will replace a nearly 40-year-old facility that holds up to 24 prisoners and has been condemned several times by state and local authorities for its substandard condition. Sheriff's Department deputies are currently housed next door in the old county courthouse.

Using funds set aside for an expansion of the public library was not an easy decision for board members. "It makes me feel bad, but we don't have any choice," said Commissioner Roberta Crawford. "I use the library, not the jail."

An expansion of the public library has been on hold since the board decided such a project could not go forward at the current downtown location. But a decision on where to put the new library may not be any farther away than the current jail. Board Chairman Jay Denton suggested that once the jail is vacated, a new library could be built in its place. The adjoining courthouse could then serve as a museum and cultural center as has been recommended in the past.

The chairman's suggestion could be the answer to those who have asked for the public library to remain in downtown Sylva, Commissioner Conrad Burrell said.

"I believe the library committee will love the idea of moving to the courthouse," Crawford said.

"This gives us a chance to do two things right and do the third thing right down the road," said Commissioner Stacy Buchanan, referring to the construction of the new jail and a recreation center in Cullowhee. That project also needs an additional $500,000, but action to fund it further was not addressed Feb. 11.

"This would give us time to get the other projects out of the way and then concentrate on the library," Burrell said "We have a library, but we need a jail."

In addition to approving more money for the jail, commissioners hired Barge Waggoner to continue their work on the project. The firm, which was originally retained to conduct a feasibility study for Jackson County's new jail, will now also serve as architects on the project.

At the recommendation of their newly employed architects, board members agreed to request from state authorities that they be allowed to alter the usual way of contracting for services to build the new jail. Barge Waggoner representative Rick Russell suggested the project proceed with a architect and construction manager overseeing the effort.

"Jails are not warehouses, and coordinating the construction is of the utmost importance," said Russell. "The goal is to have someone in charge of building your jail who has built jails before. You don't want someone learning how to build a jail on your jail."

Instead of the county letting bids for the work, Barge Waggoner and a construction manager would bid the project and then be responsible for overseeing its progress. This way of working could expedite the project by allowing it to be done in stages. It could also save the county money in the long run by allowing the construction manager and the architect to work in tandem as the plans are being drawn, Russell said.

Jackson County could qualify for special consideration from the State Construction Office due to the unusual complexity of the project and the need to "fast track" the construction due to the current jail's age.

Back to Archive: 02/17/00.