Firm selection for jail is substantial step

Marion County officials are all in on a new Marion County Jail. With its selection of two firms for construction management and architectural design on Monday, June 14, Marion County commissioners are making good on campaign promises they all made during the 2018 elections to work toward a new jail facility. WAR Construction of Tuscaloosa and Jim Berry & Associates of Fayette both were key players in the construction of the new Fayette County Jail facility and will be helping with the local project. As the most local choices among the firms jockeying for the job, this means that local contractors will likely be recruited for certain stages of the construction and that more of the dollars spent on this capital project will stay in our area. The Fayette County Jail cost roughly $6 million and is fitted for 100 inmates. Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams says he is looking to get about twice as many beds as Fayette and he will also need offices. In May, Williams said the jail experienced an all-time high one-day population of 201 inmates.