Supervisors Accept Proposals From Architects For Jail

COFFEEVILLE – Supervisors accepted a seven proposals from architects competing to design the new county jail. The proposals were opened during the “first Monday” Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Coffeeville and a final selection could be made during a recessed meeting scheduled Friday.
    County officials have identified two primary criteria  for the selecting an architect–experience in jail construction and the fee.
    The proposals will be reviewed and narrowed down to a short list for Friday’s meeting. Architects submitting proposals included:
     • Jones Zander of Grenada, 6.56 percent of a $2.5 million dollar project, 6.48 percent for a $3 million project and 5.2 percent for a $6 million plus project;
    • G.G. Ferguson, 6.88 percent for a $2.5 million project;
    • JBHM of Columbus, six to 7.5 percent of the project’s cost;
    • Hardy and Associates of Grenada, 7.8 percent of the project;
    • Pryor and Morrow of Columbus and Tupelo, six percent of the project;
    • MLW Architects of Louisiana,  7.75 percent of the project; and
    • Dean and Dean Associates did not provide a percentage in their proposal.
    With the proposals, the county can negotiate a final price prior to entering a contract with an architect. The estimated cost of the new jail is $2.75 million.