Timeline for former jail renovations shared

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Rennovations for the community corrections building will be split into two phases, a similar method will also happen at the former jail.

File photo

GREENFIELD — Hancock County Commissioners gave the green light for the timeline and bidding process to begin soon for the former jail and community corrections building renovations.

DLZ’s project manager, Scott Carnegie, gave commissioners an update at the meeting last Tuesday which entailed that the construction documents of the renovations were completed and the bidding process is ready to begin, given the commissioner’s permission.

DLZ — an architecture, engineering, planning, surveying and construction consulting firm — is doing the design work for the renovations. These projects with DLZ initially started back in 2021.

The firm’s construction documents presented at the meeting showed that the lower level of the former jail will have three alternates, including one for the coroner’s office, tower removal and then the public defender’s office. This level will also house adult probation and alcohol and drug prevention.

On the main level of the former jail, there is an exterior ramp alternate at the north end of the building. Another alternate would be to accommodate a future buildout of community corrections if allowed — keeping the east side of the existing former jail as is but allowing an alternate.

“The reason we’re doing that is because there is going to be a lot of above-ceiling work of the lower level so that’s what that alternate is,” Carnegie said at the meeting.

Community corrections and juvenile probation will be on the main level of the former jail, according to the construction plans. This will be split into phase A and B because community corrections currently occupy the west side of the first floor.

Once phase A is finished with construction, community corrections would be relocated to the east side of the building to allow for the completion of the west side, phase B.

For the community corrections building, the process will be a similar method. The prosecutor’s proposed floor plan will also be split into a phase A and B, and once the first phase is finished, they’ll relocate to the other side to allow total construction to complete.

Commissioner Bill Spalding shared that commissioners are responsible for maintaining and constructing new buildings and old buildings, and when the location of the new jail went east, it didn’t make sense to demolish the old one.

“It seemed to be the most responsible thing to do,” Spalding said. “We’re busting at the seams with a lot of our buildings and needing space, so it was decided to go ahead and remodel that existing building. At the time it was cheaper than rebuilding a new building.”

As far as the timeline of events, Justin Nicol with Envoy, who is serving as construction manager and adviser for both projects, spoke to the commissioners telling them the intent is to go live with the projects on Aug. 15, which would include the first public notice per Indiana’s Chapter Seven Public Works Law.

On Aug. 22, there will be a pre-bid meeting held on site for future contractors to go inside and take a look at the buildings. The viewing for the former jail will take place at 9 a.m. with the community corrections building following at 10:30 a.m.

A second public notice would be on Aug. 24, and the bidding due date Sept. 7 with the bidding open at 2 p.m. for the former jail and the community corrections building bidding starting at 3 p.m.

Nicol shared that the schedule aligns with the regular scheduled commissioner meetings, with the intent to potentially award contractors Sept. 19.

“If all goes well, construction would start mid- to late October,” Nicol shared at the meeting.