COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – With the millage question for a new Branch County Jail winning approval by nearly 600 votes Tuesday, the next step in a process that has already begun is finding an architect to design the new building.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners recently approved a process that would first ask for Request for Qualifications from potential architects followed by a Request for Proposals.
That way, they can discard those who don’t have the proper qualifications right off the bat.
It’s expected that an architect will be selected by November.
Sheriff John Pollack recently said they are using results from a $10,000 study that was conducted a couple of years ago for the jail design. He said while there could some changes, they have a floor plan and a concept of how they want it set up.
Pollack says the jail they are looking at is just like the one which is being used in Adams County, Indiana.
Construction costs are expected to go up over the next several years and that’s one reason why Pollack and other backers of the new jail felt it was important to have the millage approved this time after two unsuccessful attempts. Pollack pointed out the construction cost for a new jail two years were $18 million. Now the construction cost is up to $22 million.
The new 184 bed jail will be built near the current facility and is scheduled to be ready in August 2020.
