OCC moves forward on a new jail

Oconee County will get a smaller jail than first planned and at a lower cost than first estimated. Meeting with architect and contractor representatives and Sheriff Crenshaw, County Council approved a schematic design for a jail to hold 200 inmates, with emergency capacity for an extra 40 beds. It’s to be a 65 thousand square foot, two-story building to adjoin the Law Enforcement Center on the cemetery side. County Administrator Scott Moulder says about $15.8 million remains from a $17 million bond issue. By reducing the bed size from 288 to 200, the county expects to lower the price to around $16 million. But it also agreed last night to pay $165 thousand to buy an adjoining home and parcel at 102 Lura Lane. The council received a timeline that shows April 2, 2014 the start of site work and the finished jail by May 2, 2015.