AUBURNÂ â The DeKalb County Commissioners Monday approved a modified contract with the Elevatus architecture firm to complete construction documents for a new jail.
In January, the commissioners hired the Fort Wayne company to design a new county jail for a fee not to exceed $925,000.
Last week, two of the three commissioners indicated they do not support building a jail right now. Commissioners Bill Hartman and Todd Sanderson said they want to wait until a spike in construction costs subsides. However, they approved signing a contract with Elevatus to complete drawings for a new jail.
Monday, architect Tony Vie presented an amended contract that removes work other than drawings with a new price of $465,000.
AUBURN â DeKalb County leaders voiced differing opinions on when to build a new jail Monday, while Sheriff David Cserep II warned about the threat of a lawsuit.
At this monthâs meeting of the DeKalb County Council in the courthouse, Commissioner Mike Watson said he hopes his two fellow commissioners would consider moving quickly.
âIâm certainly not in favor of pushing this thing down the road. I donât think thereâs much can left to kick on this thing,â Watson said.
Commissioner Todd Sanderson called for waiting to see if construction prices decline.
âYou have to plan to the upside so high, right now, I think itâs time to put the brakes on this just a little to wait and see things subside and say itâs definitely going to cost this,â Sanderson said.