April 2 ground break for new jail

Oconee County has yet to get a guaranteed maximum price to build the new jail, but Sheriff Mike Crenshaw anticipates that price will be available next month—in time to allow ground breaking for the 200 prisoner jail Wednesday, April 2. That GMP is to be delivered to the Oconee County Council. Crenshaw is not yet able to estimate the cost, but he said he’s confident it will fall within what remains of a $15.7 million bond issue. Though the new jail will be designed for 200 prisoners, it is to be permitted to store as many as 240 at a time. Regardless of the inmate numbers, Crenshaw anticipates an additional one or two more prison guards will be needed. He also announced that later this year, in anticipation of the new jail, the current guard staff will work 12-hour work stints—instead of eight hours.