Cronic: Work on new jail within budget, maybe ahead of time

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Sheriff Steve Cronic said Friday construction of the new county jail is on time and on budget - and that the new lockup could be ready earlier than expected.

Cronic, during a tour of the Calvary Road construction site for reporters, said that's a "prayerful thought" right now for Hall County's biggest ever construction project funded with dollars from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

"We're hoping that we can get in here in September," the sheriff said. That would be weeks ahead of the original projected completion date.

Sheriff Cronic credited contractors, Gleeds and Turner Construction and the pace of their work with leaving the door open to a possible early completion date for the $54 million facility which will house just over 1,000 inmates.

Around 111 workers are on site during the week and often on weekends.

The Sheriff gave no small amount of credit to cooperation between his department and the Hall County Commission, which began early on during the planning stages.

"This has been a very successful venture because of the partnership we've had," Cronic said. "The County Commission makes all the decisions, it's their authority to build and staff the jail, it's ours to run it, but they have listened attentively to what we've had to say, they've valued our input."

Cronic said a civilian review panel has also helped direct and guide site development.

"We're sitting here on a facility this size that is on time and on budget because of that level of cooperation," Cronic said.

Maj. Jim Ash, Commander of Sheriff's Services, said the new jail will be state-of-the-art and will solve a lot of problems.

Ash said its design is much more space efficient than the current jail, improving and redesigning everything from inmate intake to the laundry room, to the visitor area.

Adults and juveniles have separate areas for arrival and holding.

"It (the old jail) has such a maze of hallways and so forth to connect all the areas, it makes it so labor intensive."

He also said the new jail will eliminate potential security issues.

Ash proudly pointed to the ten inch by five foot windows.

"People can get through a ten inch window, believe it or not," Ash said,recalling an escape at the Main Street jail five years ago.

"These windows are still ten inch, but you'll also see a bar right through the middle, stapled and screwed in from the outside."

Sheriff Cronic said how to use the old jail is up to the County Commission.

"At this point everything's on the table for discussion," Cronic said. "Discussions have been made on selling the facility and relocating the Law Enforcement Center to leasing the facility to bring in revenue to offset operational cost."
Cronic said converting the Main Street jail to a completely female facility is under discussion.

"Everything's been discussed and everything's on the table to see what will be the best use for it and will generate the best revenue to offset our cost and best serve this community," the Sheriff said.