Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved a contract that will allow Atlanta architectural firm Rosser International Inc. begin work on an addition to the coutny jail that could cost as much as $62.5 million to build.
The new jail building is one of several projects that will be built with bonds, as approved by voters in May.
The 984-bed jail tower will be built adjacent to the current jail on Ransom Road in Richmond to relieve overcrowding in the current facility.
Area residents have met with county officials expressing concerns over noise from inmates.
Richmond resident Harold Mathis told commissioners on Tuesday “something was gained” in a recent meeting with county facilities director Don Brady. However, “I would just like to urge the court and the architect…in designing the new building, to make every consideration possible” to take noise issues into consideration.
Mathis also asked for consideration in reducing the height of the structure, adding “It’s actually going to be right in our faces.”
According to the agreement commissioners court approved Tuesday, construction costs for the jail project cannot exceed $62.48 million, a number that “shall provide the basis for architect’s design decisions.”
If during the course of the project the county decides to engage the arhitects in any of several services considered beyond the scope of “basic” services, the agreement calls for payment in a scale ranging from $200 an hour for the services of a “senior principal,” to $80 an hour for a “staff intern architect.”
Also Tuesday, commissioners tabled action on a petition by residents in the Mission West neighborhood, who asked that signs be placed at the entrances of the community prohibiting overnight parking of commercial vehicles.
“I have a couple of questions, because the petitions come from only one section of that subdivision,” said County Judge Bob Hebert. “It probably would be more appropriate to hold a public hearing. We don’t want to get into an inter-subdivision squabble.”
