After years of planning and budget discussions, a contract
was awarded Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, to make additions and improvements to the
St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown.
The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County approved a
$25,696,000 contract to Scheibel Construction of Huntingtown. The company
recently completed the Capt. Walter Francis Duke Elementary School and College
of Southern Maryland Wellness Center in Leonardtown.
Under the contract, a new 64-bed women’s wing will be added
to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center along with a new
medical services unit. Vacated existing space will be renovated for Pretrial
Services office space and laundry services area. The work also includes
upgrades to the facility’s heating and air-conditioning system and security
improvements.
The overall jail expansion project will be designed in the
current fiscal 2019 year, followed by construction of the additions in fiscal
2020 and security and HVAC renovations in fiscal 2021.
The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County unanimously approved
the design-build contract.
“This is actually a big day,” Commissioner Mike Hewitt said.
“The jail’s finally going to get built.”
Major Michael Merican said, “We are extremely grateful to
the County Commissioners for their support in this project. The detention
center has been in need of upgrades and renovations for several years. Built in
1989, it is an aging facility and the jail’s population continues to grow in
size and in needs, often medical. This project award will go a long way in
meeting some of the needs for the community.”
The jail currently has a capacity of 230 beds.
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| Rendering of the jail expansion |
