JENNINGS — Jeff Davis Parish officials are scaling back plans for a new regional jail to be built just off U.S. 90 west of Jennings.

Plans for construction of a new sheriff’s administrative building were removed from the project plans, according to architect Mark LaLande.

The administrative building, which would have included offices for the 911 Center and Office of Emergency Preparedness, could be built at a later date if funding is available, he said.

“We have had to cut back slightly, but we are still within the available funds for construction and consistent with the project submitted by the parish in their cooperative endeavor with the state,” LaLande said.

Police jurors on Wednesday approved the revised preliminary plans for the jail only. The estimated cost is $8.7 million, including utilities and infrastructure. About $8.1 million is being provided upfront from the state for the project.

This week the state Office of Facility Planning and Control moved $6 million in funding to priority 1 of the state’s capital outlay budget. An additional $3 million was moved to priority 5 with plans to move the funding up next year, Police Jury President Donald Woods said.

“The sheriff is very anxious to get everything moving, but projects like this often move a lot slower,” LaLande said.

The revised plans will now be submitted to the state for approval, LaLande said. The next step should be the authorization from the state to move forward on the construction project, he said.

Woods said the parish hopes to take construction bids later this year. The project would take about 11⁄2 years to complete.

“Everyone is getting nervous, but when they see work going on they will be happy,” Woods said. “It just takes time.”

Clearing of nearly 15 acres of the 17-acre site is to begin next week, he said.

Plans for the new facility are based on a 2012 feasibility study that called for the replacement of the existing 65-bed parish jail with a 185-inmate facility.

(MGNonline)

Karen Wink