NEW DESIGN FOR SCOTT JAIL RECEIVES FINAL TOUCHES

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell has poured over blueprints, talked to neighboring county sheriffs and studied up on how to build the perfect jail.

But he still has questions about everything from parking lots to kitchen equipment to security issues.

Ferrell came to the county courthouse Thursday afternoon carrying blueprints and notebooks for a meeting with the county commission and the architect designing a new jail.

In April, Scott County voters approved a half-cent countywide sales tax that will fund construction of a new jail. The existing jail was built in 1932.

Tax revenue is expected to generate $1.5 million each year. Construction estimates range from $3 million to $4 million in the preliminary stages.

Although changes are being made, it will likely have little impact on the overall project cost, said architect Jim Lichty of Archetype Design Group Inc.

When commissioners met with Lichty Thursday afternoon, they had more questions and changes to suggest.

None of the plans are set in stone yet, Ferrell said.

And all the changes have to be finalized on blueprints before the commission can give its final approval, said Dewaine Shaffer, second district commissioner.

Some of the changes have saved extra work since they never made it to the blueprint stage, said Lichty.

The kitchen and laundry areas were moved to the basement and an entry was added in the prisoner intake area. The trash bin also was moved out of sight from neighboring residents.

"Now we know where things go and can get final approval for the design," Lichty said.

The discussion has centered around moving doorways, adding ample storage space for kitchen supplies and linens, and making sure that the building is adequately secured.

Ferrell wanted to know more about how the secured doors would operate from the general control station and if there would be a way to override the computerized system should it ever fail.

"I want to talk to people who've used it and see if they like it or if there are problems with it," he said.

The project is expected to be ready for bid by October, but no construction schedule has been set.