Jail project to begin to meet state requirements
Staff reporter
Work will begin as planned for renovations at Marion County Jail.
Architect Tony Rangel of Law Kingdon Architects of Wichita reported Friday to Marion County Commission that Dustin Hett of Hett Construction of Marion was to provide the necessary insurance documents to the county next week.
Hett was the only bidder on a minor renovation project at the jail which is required by the state fire marshal's office for compliance. If the county had not authorized the renovations, the fire marshal could shut down the jail facility.
The total bid was $20,700 which included renovations to the front office area to make it enclosed with bullet-resistant glass and walls and wall separations of the sally port (the area law enforcement vehicles are parked while loading and unloading prisoners) and a holding area.
Another adjustment will be the hiring of 24-hour jail/dispatch personnel to be available to escort prisoners to safety in case of disaster.
The commission also asked Rangel for a clarification of design services requested at Monday's meeting to determine cost estimates for a new 72-bed jail, sheriff's office, and communications department and estimates for the same, but for a 24-bed facility. Cost estimates also will include renovations and additions at the existing jail location.
Thus far, the county has paid Law Kingdon approximately $20,000 for their services related to the current jail renovation and new facility.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said he was concerned about the budget and wanted to know a cost estimate for the preliminary design of a new jail.
Rangel said he wasn't going to design anything but instead would provide a concept estimate.
He explained that the plan would be a site plan with a box that indicates the facility.
"I'm not going to spend a great deal of time to do this," Rangel said. He continued that he wasn't talking about a foot print or floor plans.
Dallke said after the commission receives this information, decisions will have to be made whether to move forward with a more detailed plan.
The original proposal from the architect firm was for $77,440 for a design concept for a jail which did not include final details.
More information will be obtained from the City of Marion regarding the new jail being located at the city's industrial park.
