Doors, security tech ordered for HC Jail

Construction of the Henry County Jail is running on schedule.

Crews began pouring precast concrete today and steel for the building will be on site next week.

'They'll have all the parts and pieces there, so they can get this thing together in a hurry,” said John Hansen, with Midwest Construction Consultants, during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, Sept. 20.

Hansen recently returned from an impromptu three-day trip to Florida to meet with Security Electronics, Inc. and Brinks Locks to get everyone in the same room and order secure electronics for the jail. The meeting occurred after Hansen discovered Brinks Locks had orders scheduled through February.

During the meeting, Hansen and the subcontractors went over every door that will go into the jail, which was around 100, and security measures that will coincide with each door. The doors should be in Mt. Pleasant on time in mid-November.

'It was critical to get this stuff finalized and ordered and getting everyone in the same room enabled us to do that rather quickly,” Hansen explained.

As construction continued over the summer, crews ran into several spots of unsuitable soil. There were areas where crews had to over-excavate because the 'gray, junk soil” had to go before work could continue, Hansen said. He does not anticipate any more soil problems.

Additionally, some water lines were moved because Hansen is trying to preserve as many trees as possible.

The exterior perimeter of the foundation is in, Hansen said. Work on underground plumbing and electrical work has begun. Hansen said that electrical conduits will be stubbed out in the next two weeks, so the rest of the footings can be placed.

Hansen is researching possibilities for the communications building and tower. The tower will be 160 feet tall. While Hansen found a decently-priced tower that has been refurbished, it's 260 feet tall and he wants to look at other options.

The communications building is another aspect of the jail where quotes are coming back higher than expected. While some quotes were as high as $116,000, Hansen said he found one all-inclusive with electrical work and the foundation for $42,000.

The recent rain has slowed down the project a little, but is not hurting the projects schedule, Hansen assured. 'When you don't have rain all summer, sometime or another your due,” Hansen said with a chuckle. 'We did find out we have rain in Mt. Pleasant. They're out there pumping trenches.”