The structure commonly known as the rock house, sitting on property adjacent to the Claiborne Justice Center, is slated for the wrecking ball. The only problem seems to be that the county will need to devise the least expensive way in which to do away with the building, which is apparently obstructing current plans to expand the Justice Center parking lot.
Members of the Claiborne County Correctional Partnership Act Committee, commonly referred to as the jail committee, spent a bit of time last week discussing the issue during its regular monthly meeting.
Those who sit on the County Buildings, Grounds and Personnel Committee recommended tearing down the building regardless of whether the jail expansion project continues, said jail committee chairman Steve Mason.
County finance officer Sam Owens said the project must come in under $10,000 or the job would need to go through the bidding process.
Committee member Bill Keck suggested contacting local contractors for estimates.
David Mundy, who is the chairman of the full Claiborne Commission and a member of the jail committee, suggested contacting area Fire Stations to see if the building could be used during a ‘controlled burn.’
A local church is interested in securing some of the rock, to be used in constructing cemetery pillars, said Claiborne County Mayor Jack Daniels.
The committee spent a good deal of time hashing the upcoming meetings schedule. The scheduling had to be reworked to allow sufficient time between the bidding of the expansion project jobs and the date of the meeting of the full Commission in which the bids are expected to be approved.
The time is necessary to allow resolutions to be drafted and placed inside the information packets sent to each commissioner at least ten days prior to the meeting.
A pre-bid ‘walk through’ by prospective subcontractors will occur at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16. Members of the jail committee have the option not to attend this meeting, since its sole purpose will be to give the contracting companies a chance to eyeball current conditions.
The committee will meet in regular session at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19. However, its venue is moved to the Claiborne Courthouse, due to a scheduling conflict with the Justice Center training room.
Members will meet again at 2 p.m. on Dec. 8 to officially open and review the submitted bids.
The regular monthly meeting of the committee, in which Ludman is expected to make his bid recommendation, will occur at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.
The recommendation will be handed over to the full Claiborne Commission during its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25.
At that time, the commissioners will be considering two resolutions. The first will officially award the contract and the second will officially state the funding particulars.
Ludman said the project has drawn the interest of four reputable contractors, who are all “solid bidders.”
Daniels seemed to want assurances from Ludman that the county ‘won’t get hooked,’ when the bonds are approved.
“We don’t want what happened with the (Highway 33) bridge to happen to us,” said Daniels, referring to the apparent delays in finishing that project.
The contracting firm, Ludman said, must submit a performance bond that is a form of insurance for the county.
Daniels also questioned whether the county could make changes to the plans, once the ‘stamp of approval’ is given by the appropriate agencies.
Ludman said any changes could be added via an addendum.
The expansion footprint, Ludman said, is now set.
“We are honing in on the details of the project,” he said.
The plans have been approved by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, according to Wayne Lee, who is the chief deputy with the Claiborne Sheriff’s Office.
Due to an apparent backlog in cases, the Fire Marshal has yet to give the project a thumbs-up. However, Ludman said he is not “too worried.”
If there should be an issue with the codes, it can be fixed, he said.
The official bid opening for the installation of a new jail control panel will occur at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Claiborne Finance Office.
On Oct. 22, the Claiborne County Jail held a total 236 inmates. Of that population, 59 were state and 40 were federal prisoners.
Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.
