At Tuesday’s Grayson County Fiscal Court meeting, magistrates heard an update on the Grayson County Detention Center expansion project.
Originally, the detention center expansion called for 43,674 square feet of space to be added to the current facility, but Grayson County Jailer Jason Woosley eliminated about 10,000 square feet from the plans after construction bids came in at about $5 million more than anticipated. DLZ Corporation, the firm overseeing the project, now projects the cost of the addition to be approximately $12.1 million.
Woosley said he eliminated “some office and storage space” and one of the most expensive facets of the expansion, a kitchen. He said the current kitchen is large enough to serve the nearly 200 additional inmates, but that more appliances will likely have to be purchased. Woosley also eliminated a pre-engineered metal building, classroom and recreation yard from the expansion plans.
The jailer did note that only a few of the over 200 new beds were cut from the new expansion plans (199 beds will now be added), which will still allow the female jail population to be moved to the detention center’s main campus on Shaw Station Road. After the expansion is complete, the number of beds at the GCDC will be well over 700.
Karl Maus, representing DLZ Corporation, told magistrates that the new design is “very similar” to the previous design, with the only alterations to the plans reflective of Woosley’s eliminations. Maus said bids will be accepted beginning April 23, with construction targeted to begin May 20.
The Grayson County Detention Center is the only financially self-sufficient jail in Kentucky, and no local tax dollars will be used in the construction of the addition.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
