[07/18/01] Remodeling of the Warren County Jail may begin as early as next month, Warren County supervisors said Tuesday.

“We are right at the doorstep in seeing construction,” said Richard George, board of supervisors president.

In the board meeting Tuesday, officials opened the contract bids to remodel the jail. The county board had allocated $1.25 million in its fiscal 2001 budget for replacing the roof and for construction of an additional level on top of the 1979 addition.

The board plans to replace the original flat roof with an angled roof made of metal, similar to the one on the original building, George said.

The four companies that bid for the project, not including alternate work, were:

Coleman Hammons Construction Company Inc. had a base bid of $1,096,000.

Flag Star Construction Company Inc. had a base bid for $1,157,000.

Mayrant & Associates had a base bid of $1,099,000, and Moss Construction Company bid $1,165,200.

The contract calls for the work to be completed a year after the contract is awarded and the company receives the go-ahead to begin. That could come next week, George said.

The contractor who bids the lowest has historically been awarded the project, but not always, he said.

“The main thing you are looking for is the credibility of the contractor,” George said.

He said he has been hearing complaints about the leaking roof for years and the No. 1 factor delaying the project has been the historic designation of the original structure, built in 1906, he said.

The county had to seek permission from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History because the building was being remodeled on the exterior.

In the past, the old roof has experienced many problems including leaks, wall sweating and problems with rotting wood on the overhangs, he said.

“I pray to God that in the next three to four weeks we see live bodies on the roof working,” George said.

Sheriff Martin Pace said even though the work is long overdue he is glad the project is going forward.

After work is completed, the building will have a new third floor, but there are no plans to build new holding cells, he said.

“This will be a way to add more room for a later expansion,” Pace said. “As the needs grow it is necessary there be room to do that.”

The final decision on the contracts may be reached during next Monday’s board meeting at 9 a.m., George said.