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Early designs would add more than 300 beds, mental health cells
BASTROP — Bastrop County’s proposed jail expansion is taking shape as architects last week presented designs for the roughly $45 million renovation.
DRG Architects updated commissioners Sept. 14 on the project, currently wrapping up the first of three design phases. Officials said construction costs are estimated at about $40 million, with $28 million going toward a new inmate housing addition and another $5 million covering professional fees, equipment and other expenses.
“We’re going to keep going through here, try to identify cost-saving areas,” DRG architect Perry Rabke said. “We know that we’re not going to be able to go over that amount.”
The expansion would add 304 general inmate housing beds, 20 separation cells and eight two-person mental health cells, along with improvements to booking areas and medical facilities.
Officials have previously noted additional beds could allow the county to generate revenue by housing inmates from other jurisdictions, rather than paying neighboring counties to house its own.
“When I first became county judge three years ago, we were making over $1 million housing federal prisoners,” County Judge Gregory Klaus said. “We’re wanting to add on to the jail so we can possibly get some more money coming into the county.”
Plans also include a partial basement estimated at nearly $6 million, which could house training rooms, security electronics and a future gun range.
Commissioners questioned whether the basement justified its cost, particularly while plans for some of its uses remain pre- liminary.
“That may be the least important part of this whole endeavor right now, it’s kind of the wishlist area,” Rabke said. “Obviously, we want to do what we need to do for the jail part first and the needs of the jail.”
Another presentation is expected before the project goes out for bids. Plans and costs could change as design work continues, according to officials.
