County Commissioner Ray Vaughn said the cost of a new adult detention center would be about the same as a remodel of the current facility — about $290 million. Remaining money would be spent constructing a new juvenile detention center and purchasing property.
“If we can get the bond issue authorized then we'll go out and look at sites, a 60- to 80-acre site — but we're not going to tie our hands with being on half of a city block like we are right now, where we can't expand,” Vaughn said.
According to the proposal, a one-story complex would replace the current 13-story tower downtown. The adult detention center would be built to hold 2,800 detainees.
Trumbo said the committee will likely produce a final design recommendation in December.
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