By Barbara Behrendt, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 27, 2010
BROOKSVILLE — The cost of repairs at the Hernando County Jail will run five times higher than the $3 million the county has set aside, according to a preliminary engineering report.
HDR Engineering, the firm hired by the county to assess conditions at the 22-year-old jail, has made a preliminary estimate that repairs will cost $14.9 million, with the largest chunk going to meet code and security needs.
The preliminary report also says $973,626 of that amount should be covered by Corrections Corporation of America for deferred maintenance.
The county has withheld $1.8 million from CCA in anticipation of the findings in the report. CCA has demanded payment immediately, and county's legal staff has invited the company to send representatives to Tuesday's County Commission meeting to speak about the unpaid invoices.
A final report by the engineering firm is expected soon.
The county's purchasing and contracts consultant, Lisa Hammond, will recommend that, "due to the Hernando County Jail facility condition of disrepair and the incomplete review and costing of repairs, it is recommended that the county postpone action until Oct. 12, 2010, or when the final report is available,'' Hammond wrote.
Corrections Corporation of America began operating the jail in 1988, but backed out of its contract this year. Sheriff Richard Nugent took over operations of the facility in late August. He initially had balked at the takeover, citing deteriorating conditions at the jail.