Pontotoc County will open a new 200-bed jail
Construction: Courthouse will also be renovated through bond project

BY ANN KELLEY Comments 3
Published: November 5, 2009

ADA — Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian is getting a new jail for Christmas.

Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian discusses new features during a tour. Photo by Jim Beckel.

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Pontotoc Co. jail nearing completion

Nov 4John Christian, sheriff of Pontotoc County, talks about the new jail.

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"I’ve been in law enforcement for more than 25 years, and I never thought it would happen in my lifetime,” Christian said. "I’m like a kid waiting to open a Christmas present.”

County officials say the 200-bed jail at 1814 N Broadway will be completed by the end of December.

The jail is being called the Pontotoc County Justice Center. It will replace a 46-bed jail near the courthouse that state jail inspectors have threatened to shut down.

Christian started his career as a Pontotoc County jailer and for years ran the old jail as undersheriff. The concrete, basement-like jail is dark, moldy and overcrowded, he said.

"We basically had no choice. It was either build a new one or have no jail at all,” Christian said.

Christian said the new jail will cost about $7.9 million. Along with 200 prisoner capacity, it has a booking center, courtroom and commercial kitchen.

County voters in July 2006 passed a sales tax of eleven-sixteenths of a penny to fund the jail construction and renovate the county courthouse.

The 20-year tax is anticipated to cover $20 million in projects, county officials said.

The projects are spearheaded by the Pontotoc County Public Facilities Authority.

Its chairman, East Central University Vice President Steve Turner, said the group has worked to stretch taxpayer dollars so more money could be put into bricks and mortar, and less for fees.

The group initially anticipated spending as much as $1.2 million for land for the jail, but spent only $550,000. They saved 6 percent by bypassing bond underwriters and allowing several local banks to finance the projects, Turner said.

County officials are being relocated to buildings across the street from the courthouse during construction.

Those buildings were renovated and bought at a cheaper price than leasing space, Turner said.

County Commissioner Winford Wood said the courthouse was built in 1926 and had not been remodeled since the 1960s. It has roof, structural, plumbing, wiring and cosmetic problems.

They plan to advertise for bids in the next few weeks, he said. The building’s historical character will be preserved, and it is expected to take about 18 months to complete the renovations.

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