Huntsville, TN (2008-10-06) Several changes to the Scott County Justice Center were purposed to the Building & Grounds Committee Monday night.
Scott County Mayor Rick Keeton presented the Building and Grounds Committee of the Scott County Commission with cost estimates on a number of change orders proposed on the recently completed Scott County Justice Center in Huntsville. In the proposal, one sink and one toilet in each of the men’s dayrooms at the facility would be replaced with a combination sink and security toilet. By making the changes, the County could feasibly increase the total capacity of both rooms by up to 18 prisoners. The estimated total cost of the project was $18,588, a price that a caused a number of Commissioners to balk on the proposal. Commissioner Paul Strunk noted that the estimated cost for two sets of privacy walls for the toilets ($2,322), each 9 feet 4 inches long and 4 feet high, was “outrageous.” Mayor Keeton concurred, stating the County could potentially build those walls, a move that could save the county considerable money. Sheriff Anthony Lay commented, “I really think we should do this. My Chief and I are just trying to get the most bang for our buck.” Committee Chairman Odeva Byrd called a meeting of the members of the Buildings & Grounds Committee on Thursday to evaluate the scope of the project. Byrd will submit the committee’s findings to the Finance Committee next Monday.
Other change requests included the relocation on a video surveillance monitor from the Sheriff’s office to the Jail Administrator’s office, the addition of a dome camera in the evidence room, and relocating the video Visitation controls to the Control Tower, projects totaling $4966.20. Again, the price caused some consternation amongst Committee members. Ron Blevins inquired as to the County’s ability to relocate the computer systems themselves, to which Mayor Keeton replied that the original installer should do the work to maintain any warranties on the software and equipment. No action was taken on any of the changes.
In other business Monday night:
· Mayor Keeton announced that through the cooperation of CTAS and the Institute of Public Service at the University of Tennessee, public forums will be held to gather input on the future uses of the old Jail and the Courthouse. No dates have been set; however, Keeton hoped the first meeting could be held in November.
· Register of Deeds Porter B. “Benjie” Rector asked the Intergovernmental Committee to approve the appropriation of approximately $18,000 for the refurbishment and scanning of 43 deed books, dating from the 1870’s through the 1920’s. On a motion by Commissioner Joel Newport, the Committee voted 4-2 to send the request to the full Commission, with Blevins and Commissioner Willie Boyatt casting the dissenting votes.