Decision in hands of Pike County Commission regarding possible sites for new jail

PIKE COUNTY, AL (WSFA) - Dozens of Pike County residents packed into the Pike County courthouse to hear from TCU Consulting.

“We weren’t hired to make recommendations. We were hired to gather the data, analyze the data, and give you the information through your county commissioner,” said TCU Consulting representative Ken Upchurch.

Upchurch presented research, costs, areas, and needs of building a brand new jail.

“Not a repairable jail,” he said.

The current jail was built 60 years ago, making it the oldest county jail in Alabama. The facility is currently overcrowded. One of the seven potential sites consist of building at the same location.

“Will a new jail and the necessary amenities fit on this downtown site? And the answer is yes,” he said.

The cost of a 129-person jail and detention facility could range between $25 to $30 million.

“There are options, and it really comes down to what is the most efficient - that’s operating and construction costs,” Upchurch said.

This was an opportunity for citizens to ask questions.

“It just makes better sense from a safety standpoint to me to have a one-story jail," said one man who attended the meeting.

So what happens next? The Pike County Commission will take TCU’s study and feedback from citizens in order to get closer to making a final decision.

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