White County To Upgrade Justice Center With $740 K State Grant

Three projects set to begin at the White County Justice Center through a some $743,000 state grant.

County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said about a half of a million dollars will be spent on a new HVAC system.

“The system we have is over 20-years-old actually. It’s the same system when we built the building,” Robinson said. “This project will overhaul the entire HVAC system including the roof units, air exchangers, air volume control units.”

Robinson said the other big ticket item will be a full body scanner that detects both metallic and nonmetallic threats. Robinson called the equipment a big win for correction officers.

“There is an extensive search that has to be down on inmates when they come in and out of facilities,” Robinson said. “This will definitely make that process so much easier and so much safer and more thorough.”

The remainder of the money will be for a new phone system that provides conferencing and remote work technology. Robinson said purchases and projects from the grant will have to go through the bid process and receive county commission approval.

“That (A Start Date) is one thing I am scared to predict due to everybody seems to be behind and having a hard time getting supplies,” Robinson said. “That’s what will hold us back.”

Robinson said he anticipates the contract to come next week that stipulates the funding timeline. The grant comes from the State Health Department under the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases program.