The Fulton County Commission approved $3.2 million for immediate and emergency needs at the county jail, including modernization of elevators and purchasing new kitchen equipment.
The Department of Real Estate and Asset Management (DREAM) has worked with the Fulton Sheriff’s Office on a “Jail Blitz Plan” to make critical repairs in the housing units. They discovered emergency needs that go beyond the scope of that plan and required funding sources outside of DREAM’s jail maintenance budget.
The biggest anticipated expense is the modernization of elevators, which is estimated cost is $1.65 million.
Joe Davis, director of DREAM, told the commissioners during their Aug. 7 meeting that the standard practice is to have an independent third-party consultant to evaluate the elevators from top to bottom. The consultant will assess the elevators and produce a scope of work to overhaul or modernize the system.
Kitchen equipment costing $212,302 is needed, including four 80-gallon kettles to replace ones that failed and caused carbon monoxide leaks. Ice machines, a freezer door, an 80-quart floor mixer, and a double-stack convection oven were among the other kitchen needs.
Other improvements include padded cells at the south annex, an upgrade to the fire alarm system, and six washers and dryers, totalling $1.33 million.
Steve Nawrocki, assistant chief strategy officer in the county manager’s office, said the county has several major initiatives in progress at the jail. A detailed status update of the “Jail Blitz Plan” will be provided at the commission’s next meeting on Aug. 21.
