GUNTERSVILLE — After months of site preparation and planning for a new jail addition, Marshall County is moving to the construction phase of the project after approving a nearly $36 million bid.
Sheriff Phil Sims and project director Kelly Howard presented the bids to the County Commission during Wednesday’s meeting. Of the four bids received, Howard said Carmon Constriuction, Inc. came in the lowest at $35,636,844 — $3 million under the next lowest bid.
The total bid includes a base bid of $30,634,844 plus an alternate budget of an additional $4,600,000.
The final vote to approve the bid — 4 to 1, with District 2 Commissioner Rick Watson opposing — was preceded by lengthy and, at times, heated debate over how the county plans to pay for the hefty $36 million price tag.
Commission Chairman James Hutcheson repeatedly said that the County must have a dedicated “revenue stream” to pay for the jail. Both Hutcheson and Howard estimated that the new jail will have another $2 million or more in annual operating costs once it is completed, on top of paying down the $36 million.
“You don’t build a million-dollar home on a Kool-aid budget,” the chairman said.
Commissioner Watson said he had not heard any plan as to how the county would pay for the jail and that he was concerned the final cost would balloon well beyond the original bid, similar to the old jail renovation project, which started with a $3 million budget and ended closer to $12 million. He also questioned how they plan to staff the new jail since the old one is struggling to retain its corrections officers.
“I don’t have a problem with it; I just need someone to tell me how to pay for it. Nobody told me,” Watson said.
District 4 Commissioner Joey Baker proposed using the county’s Road and Bridge Fund to pay for half the $36 million and bonding out the rest. Distinct 1 Commissioner Ronny Shumate supported the idea, saying that even though his district might be the most affected, he was willing to “bite the bullet” to complete the project. He added that he had initially wanted to tear down the old jail and rebuild instead of renovating, but now they just needed to “move forward.”
“We’re all going to sacrifice something here,” Baker added.
Sheriff Sims said that regardless of the cost, the new jail was a “need,” not a “want,” and it was a public safety matter. He said the staff retention issue would take care of itself since officers would be less likely to leave given the better work environment. He asked the Commission to approve the lowest bid, saying the cost isn’t going to get any cheaper if they wait and rebid.
Hutcheson said Baker’s proposal was the only way he could see to feasibly cover the new jail costs. He also said he would work out a deal with the mayors of Arab and Guntersville since they would also use the jail.
County Attorney Clint Maze said the project cost could not increase above the original approved bid unless the Commission first approves a change order.
Watson was the lone “no” vote, vowing not to approve any change orders that may arise during the project that could increase the cost. Howard said the only issue he could foresee adding to the cost would be if they ran into any problems with the soil as they remove five feet of dirt for the foundation.
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