FARMINGTON -- Ribbon-cutting for the expanded jail is set for Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. That event, which is open to the public as well as invited guests, signals that completion on the $24.8 million project is near. However, the Sheriff's office won't start accepting inmates to the new portion until March 1, 2007.

The public will also be invited to "experience" the jail in a "sleepover" Friday, Dec. 15, into Saturday morning. Reservations are being taken now at 451-4120 with adults required to accompany children ages 12-18. No children under age 12 will be allowed.

"We're at over 90 percent completion, are just finishing detail work, such as ceiling panels," said Chief Deputy Kevin McLeod.

"We're at crunch time, into the last three-four weeks of construction," he told the county commission Tuesday. He met with them to receive approval for a construction change order of $42,580.

That was only the 11th change order, an unusually low number for such a big project, with some of them actually returning money to the coffers.

In anticipation of the additional space, 46 civilians and 26 corrections deputies have been hired. A law enforcement academy class is currently being held at the Sheriff's office to train new hires, McLeod told the Clipper.

"We will move some of the current inmates in as soon as possible, so we can do maintenance" on the existing jail, he said.

That will likely include the female population, which ranges from 80 to 90 inmates, McLeod said.

The jail expansion is being financed thanks to a 20-year voter-approved bond. It results in a doubling in jail cells, increased by 400 to a capacity of 996.

Some days, more than 500 inmates have been housed in the current jail, necessitating placing dozens of cots.

The current jail, thanks to double bunking, can accommodate 376. It was completed in 1991. A work center opened in 1998 adding another 120 beds. The current jail was actually built to house 192 inmates.

As part of the expansion, the laundry and kitchen both were remodeled and expanded.

The kitchen is being looked at seriously to serve as the cooking origination site for senior citizen meals. That would include both meals-on-wheels to homebound and congregate hot meals served each day to the three senior activity centers.

To pay for expanded staffing and overall maintenance and operations, a $35-a-year tax increase on a $171,000 home was imposed.

Layton Construction, which built the original jail, is the general contractor and EDA Architects designed the addition.

Sheriff Bud Cox said he was excited to see the jail nearly completed. "I'm very pleased with the quality of work that's going on. We're within budget, which really pleases me."

Staying within budget has been a challenge for construction managers, particularly the past year or two, as material costs have escalated for everything from lumber to concrete.

"We will rent out any additional beds to help offset some of the cost," Cox said. "We've been in contact with the state Department of Corrections and the U.S. Marshal's Office for additional inmates. We should be able to fill the majority of those beds when they come on line in March."

"I think the public is going to be happy when they come to see it," he added.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com