The court, which recently gave the OK to go out on bids for construction managers at risk, is expected to review the bids and possibly settle on an overseer for the multi-million-dollar project.

Commissioners — with County Judge Mark Barr making the motion — voted unanimously Sept. 10 to advertise for bids from construction managers at risk — as opposed to a general contractor or construction manager agent — within what project architect Jeff Heffelfinger described as “the triangle.”

“We’ll advertise in Big Spring, Midland-Odessa, San Angelo, Lubbock and maybe even Abilene — the whole triangle,” Heffelfinger explained to the court during the meeting. “I’ll be surprised if we get more than three bids back, at which point the court can interview who they want, or if you don’t see someone you like we can look at going another route.”

Heffelfinger told the court the advantages of utilizing a construction manager at risk outweigh the benefits of using a general contractor.

“The construction manager at risk is basically an employee of the county,” said Heffelfinger. “You’ve negotiated the fee ahead of time, and it’s their responsibility to be on the job site overseeing the construction pretty much six days a week. They make sure everything is done the way it’s supposed to be done.

“The construction manager we choose needs to know this book better than anyone,” he said, pointing to a folder containing state guidelines for jail construction. “We want to look at how many county jails they have built and how they have been to work with. And building prisons doesn’t equate to building jails, because the guidelines are very, very different.”

The proposed facility would be located on U.S. Highway 80, between Utah and Wright, on the city’s west side.

Commissioners approved a contract with local property owner Thomas Land approximately two weeks ago, with purchase of the lots — at a cost of $45,000 — contingent on voter approval of a $11.57 million bond in November.

According to Commissioner Bill Crooker, the purchase includes a large lot for $40,000, a smaller frontage lot for $5,000, with closing costs expected to be approximately $10,000 — for a grand total of $55,000.

The 96-bed jail design includes facilities for both men and women — the county currently houses all female inmates out of county due to state regulations — and room for two more construction phases, if necessary.

“There are phases two and three right here,” said Commissioner Jerry Kilgore, pointing to an area on the architect’s design sheet. “One is a 48-bed expansion of the jail, and the other one is a 24-bed expansion. The 24-bed (dorm-style) expansion would be perfect if we can get a work program.”

The project will have to get the nod from Howard County voters in November before the first shovel can be turned, however.

The commissioner’s court placed a similar bond election on the November 2006 ballot, asking voters to approve a bond for slightly more than $10 million to finance a 144-bed jail, which was voted down by more than 60 percent.

The existing county jail was shut down by the Commission on Jail Standards in November 2006, after the facility’s smoke evacuation system failed to meet requirements during a pair of tests in 2006.

To make matters worse, officials with TCJS have told county commissioners if the court doesn’t pass the bond — or find another avenue of financing a new jail facility — the existing jail will once again be shut down, forcing the county to house inmates in other counties.

The cost of the last closure, which lasted approximately six months, has been estimated at close to $1 million.

Tuesday’s meeting is expected to get under way at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ courtroom, located on the second floor of the county courthouse.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it