By DIANE M. MOORE
The project started at the beginning of the year after the county was awarded $4.3 million in appropriations from the state. HCSO was given a budget of $750,000 to demolish the entire inside of the building down to the foundation and refurbish throughout. With the use of inmate labor and repurposing some of the materials, that number is more than enough.
“There were 35 tons of demoed materials,†Auxiliary Deputy Steve Herrington said. “We have been able to reuse 20 tons of that in rock, dirt and metal. That was a huge bonus for us.â€
The newly constructed interior of the building holds offices, a conference room, records room, kitchen and dining area, arms room and a hardened evidence room. That room in particular has a steel framework in the walls for extra security. The evidence room will also hold records that HCSO is mandated to keep for extended periods, as well as a cold storage area for DNA and samples that must be kept cold. The walls of the new interrogation rooms are reinforced to keep suspects from kicking through or damaging them in any way.
Tate says everything has gone as expected and that HCSO should be moved in by the end of July.
“We are excited to get moved in and be in a new and bigger space,†Tate said. “We are thankful for the funding to be able to make this new facility happen.â€
Staff Report 