WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Lee County Justice Center Expands
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Expansion is underway at the Lee County Justice Center. Overcrowding is just one of the reasons the center will be expanded.
The Sheriff's Office will be moved into new offices, and more courtroom space will added. Sheriff Jay Jones said more inmates could be coming in because this area is growing so quickly. This new addition will allow them to provide more efficient service for residents in Lee County.
It's a project five years in the making.
"We've been looking forward to this day for a long time. We're getting started on the expansion project for the jail, and we feel like this is extremely important to keep up with the growth here in Lee County.
"The project cost is approximately $18.5 million. The funding for this project is coming from three areas: The City of Auburn, the City of Opelika and the Lee County Government," said Jones.
The jail currently has 238 beds for inmates. The expansion will add 192 more.
"This will take us up over 400. We'll basically be close to doubling our size," Jones said.
Instead of having straight hallways with cells on each side, new pods will be built. They will be circular with security officers in the middle.
"It will be a much more efficient use of the area we have to work with, the most efficient use of the square footage. It allows us to place a higher concentration of individuals in a housing situation without compromising security or safety," he said.
New administration offices, a new kitchen and a new laundry room will also be built.
"We won't have to come back in and change things with the kitchen or service facility. It will be built now to address future growth needs."
The current facility will still be used, so that means the jail has to remain 100 percent functional while the expansion takes place. The project will be completed sometime in early 2007. A ground breaking ceremony was to be held Monday, but will take place later due to weather.
--Written by: Brock Parker
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