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Jail bid less than expected
JANESVILLE, Mar 24, 2010 (The Janesville Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A slow economy and competitive construction industry will save taxpayers money after the bid for Rock County Jail improvements was about $2.6 million less than expected.
The bid for the jail's new booking room, medical facility and security updates was $5.79 million compared to the $8.46 million budgeted.
"Obviously, I think contractors are really hungry. It was a really close bid," said Jeff Smith, county finance director. "Whenever we save the taxpayers money, we are very pleased."
The county board is expected to approve the bid at its meeting Thursday.
The renovations include the first phase of the $56.5 million jail expansion and will be paid for with county sales taxes collected in 2008 and 2009, Smith said.
Other phases of the expansion remain on hold because alternative programs such as electronic monitoring, Workenders and Community RECAP have reduced the jail population, Sheriff Bob Spoden said.
The daily jail population is 70 to 100 inmates fewer than in previous years, Cmdr. Tom Gehl said.
"The development of these programs and the success of these programs has taken the pressure off of building housing," he said.
Four years ago, the county was considering a $50 million to $60 million expansion, Spoden said. Now, officials hope to never build beyond the first phase.
The renovations are necessities, he said, and they will upgrade outdated equipment.
The new booking room and sally port are needed to safely transport inmates between the jail and Rock County Courthouse, Spoden said.
The old booking room will be remodeled into an updated medical facility large enough to accommodate and separate men and women, he said.
Technological upgrades such as security features, cameras and fire alarm systems also are required, Spoden said.
Local contractors will be hired to do most of the work, he said. The county's goal was to hire locals.
On Tuesday, the sheriff's office was monitoring 626 inmates, including 432 in jail, 95 on electronic monitoring, 53 in Community RECAP and 46 on Workenders, Spoden said. The jail's rated capacity is 525 inmates.
Placing inmates in alternative programs saves the county money on jail food, health care and housing, Gehl said.
Construction could begin this year and finish after 18 months, Spoden said.
JAIL PLAN
Below are highlights of the $56.5 million Rock County Jail expansion plan. The Rock County Sheriff's Office is moving forward with Phase 1. Officials hope other phases won't be needed for many years.
Phase 1: $5.79 million
-- Kitchen equipment replacement
-- Security electronics
-- Fire alarm system
-- Surveillance cameras
-- Booking room
-- Sally port
-- Remodel medical room
Phase 2: $17.73 million
-- Build a 192-bed inmate housing building
-- Heating system
-- Fire alarm system
Phase 3: $17.17 million
-- Build a law enforcement building
-- Demolish the Pinehurst Building
-- Build an evidence garage
-- Build a maintenance facility
-- Expand the kitchen
Phase 4: $12.55 million
-- Build a three-story housing tower
Phase 5: $615,000
-- Renovate existing jail pods
To see more of The Janesville Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.gazetteextra.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Janesville Gazette, Wis.
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