By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
March 22, 2001
DECATUR Newton County supervisors are scheduled to meet today with architects from Pryor and Morrow Architects, the Columbus firm contracted to design a new county jail.
They also met last week.
The position of a road to serve the site is under discussion now.
Last month, supervisors rescinded a $2 million bond issued last year for the jail's construction, and Smith said he doesn't know when they will reissue the bond.
Supervisors have an agreement with Decatur officials to locate the jail on four to five acres in the Decatur Industrial Park on Highway 15. Smith said Decatur officials have indicated they will donate the land.
He said architects have drawn up several renderings of the proposed jail. Supervisors decided to include a full kitchen and 66 beds at last count.
He said supervisors want to see the jail site and the road staked out before they move further because it could make a difference as to how the building is arranged on the property.
After the site is staked, supervisors can get the dirt work done, he said.
Smith said he doesn't know if the road through the industrial park will be complete by the time the jail is built, but supervisors intend to use it to access the jail property.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.