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Last updated on Saturday, October 12, 2013
(SALEM) - Construction of the Washington County Detention Center is underway in Washington County and in the state of Georgia.
Marcia Clark, of the Leader Democrat reports, on site at the Jackson Street location, workers have been making preparations to pour the foundation. At Steel Cell in Georgia, a plant that makes prefabricated steel jail cells, workers have been busy constructing the cells for the project.
Les Smith, with Shireman and construction manager for the project, provided an update to the county commissioners during their Oct. 1 meeting.
Workers will begin pouring the the concrete floor Friday.
In Georgia, where fixtures, including built-in beds, are being installed in the cells and a coating applied to them. Smith estimated the cells weigh 7,000 to 8,000 pounds each; there are two-, four- and eight-person cells.
Smith explained that three or four cells at a time will be trucked to the site, where they will be stacked and welded together. He expects the first load to arrive around Oct. 14.
Krempp Construction, Jasper, has the contract for the the multi-scope package which essentially refers to the basic shell that includes the cells and such items as carpentry, ceiling, flooring and the concrete.
Base bids for the project totaled $9,295,835. The project is to be paid for through bonds backed by property tax revenue.
The basic project involved the addition of a pod that will increase the number of beds to 204, along with a new kitchen and laundry area.
The original jail dates to 1986 and was designed for a population of 56. These days, the population sometimes numbers in the high 90s.
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