Jefferson County approves contract for consultant to convert old jail into juvenile facility

Jefferson County commissioners and the county council approved a contract to hire Josh Nichols as the consultant and project manager for converting the county’s old jail into a juvenile facility.

Speaker 2 said the county has received state approval to repurpose the old jail but lacked detailed remodel estimates. To solve that, she said Nichols — described in the meeting as the current director in another jurisdiction — would visit Saturday to produce a room‑by‑room checklist that contractors could use to give firm bids.

At the meeting Speaker 3 moved to approve a consultant contract for Josh Nichols at $12,700 per month for March through December to prepare the facility; Speaker 2 seconded. After brief discussion the motion passed by voice vote.

Speaker 4 had earlier noted that $127,000 would be needed to cover the consultant retainer from March through December and that the county would advertise appropriation of those funds for the council’s February meeting. The contract approved at the joint session covers the initial consultant work; a separate contract for ongoing operation, if needed, would be considered later.

The boards instructed staff to advertise the funding reappropriation and to return with contractor bids and a refined cost estimate for the physical remodel before executing construction contracts.