COUNTY JAILS ACROSS REGIONGrundy County will be the last rural county in the region to undertake a major jail project. Here are some of the others:County —– Built —– Expanded/CostBledsoe —– 2011 —– $7.4 millionBradley —– 2003 —– $16 millionGrundy —– 1973 —– Initial estimate $7-$10 millionMarion —– 2001 —– $8 millionMcMinn —– 1992 —– $5.6 millionMeigs —– 2001 —– $760,000 (expansion)Polk —– 2007 —– $8 millionRhea —– 2003 —– $200,000 (expansion, new study under way)Sequatchie —– 2006 —– $8 millionSource: Local county governments and newspaper archives
Grundy County commissioners last week reviewed feasibility studies for a new jail or justice center with price tags ranging from about $7 million to more than $10 million.
But officials still have lots of questions about costs and options.
“It was one of the more open information-gathering conversations we’ve had,” Grundy County Mayor Lonnie Cleek said of efforts to replace the county’s 37-year-old jail. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress.”
Chattanooga-based TWH Architects gave the study to commissioners last week and will make a formal presentation June 1.