Jail is nearly done

The first phase of the Jay County Jail construction is nearly complete and the expansion will be operational starting Sept. 13.
Sheriff Ray Newton said this morning that jail staff and inmates will move into the expansion on Sept. 13.
“The move will probably take all day,” Newton said but said there should be no disruption in service at the jail.
Newton said training is coming along smoothly and jail staff will be ready to operate that morning.
“We started that Wednesday and we’ll be training up to the morning of Sept. 13,” he said.
“We’ve got enough personnel where we can man the jail and have two officers go into the new part and train on the control tower as far as the controls and opening the doors. Within two weeks we’ll be ready to go.”
Newton also announced there will be open houses for the public to view the finished expansion on Sept. 11 and 12 from noon to 4 p.m.
The second phase of the jail project will include renovation of the existing jail building.
That phase is scheduled to begin Monday.
“We are going to close two of our cell blocks where they’re actually going to start working in the old part,” he said.
Administration and dispatching will remain in the old portion of the jail while crews are renovating the old cellblocks, booking area and kitchens.
In other jail related news, the Jay County Building Corporation met Thursday afternoon and approved claims totaling $404,281.07.
Those claims include $14,996.25 to Progressive Office Products for computer equipment and $585 to ICP, LLC, for security striping.
The building corporation board also received updates from project manager Jeff Badders of SchenkelShultz, who informed them that work crews are beginning to move toward work on the existing building.
Badders also informed the board of the sheriff’s plans to hold open houses and move operations to the new wing in that second week of September.[[In-content Ad]]