Architects to draw up plans for Calhoun jail

Last year, Calhoun County and Orangeburg County dissolved their partnership to jointly operate the detention center in Orangeburg.

Now Calhoun County is researching whether to build a jail of its own or to continue sending its inmates to Orangeburg under the current contract, which has one more year on it, plus a two-year renewal option.

We need good numbers to balance the pros and cons of contracting as opposed to constructing, County Administrator Lee Prickett said at a council work session May 7.

And plenty of numbers is what council got at the work session. Several employees of Moseley Architects presented information on population trends, jail admissions and average length of stay.

Based on the data, they offered three possible sizes for a jail: 44 beds, 48 beds or 68 beds.

After much discussion and with Sheriff Thomas Summers endorsement, council voted to authorize the architects to draw plans for a 48-bed, 110-square-foot facility that would feature an elevated master control room affording views into each housing unit. The structure could be easily expanded if needs arise in the future.

Council has not authorized construction of the facility, but Rick Ott of the company said, this is a really good time to build as interest rates are low and construction bids are 25 percent lower than they were five years ago. He said the facility could be ready for occupancy in as little as 12 months after council gives the go-ahead.

Construction could cost upward of $3.5 million, but the real cost of your facility is going to be in the operations part, said Todd Davis of Moseley Architects. If its in close proximity to the sheriffs office, youre going to pick up some efficiencies and increase the general security of the jail.

Tell that to the neighbors, Councilman James Haigler said.

When we put the sheriffs office there, we made a commitment we werent going to put a jail there, Haigler said. Im not personally opposed to it. If the public is for it, Im all for it. I think it is the ideal spot. But the folks in this community will have to be satisfied (or) I couldnt support it.

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Architects to draw up plans for Calhoun jail