The Harlan County Fiscal Court continued to move quickly on decisions regarding the new detention center. The magistrates chose the architect and construction manager for the project at Thursday's regular meeting.

They voted to hire Schenkel Shultz as the architects for the project and Codell as construction manager.

Schenkel Shultz was among three architecture firms that made presentations at a special-called meeting Tuesday.

"We can go ahead and select [an architect], but we still ain't got our plan and the exact jail we want," said Magistrate Paul Caldwell.

"I don't think we should let them start their design until we further look at it money-wise," added Magistrate Curt Stallard.

Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop explained that a majority of the project would be funded through bonds, but coal severance money, and possibly money from other sources, could also be used in the project.

Grieshop said it would be beneficial for the county to move quickly on the project because interest rates are going up.

"The engineering on the land is being done," said Grieshop. "If we don't get moving, I think the financial burden will increase. ... If you watch the interest, it's creeping up."

Grieshop also advised that the new jail will be able to house state prisoners, which generates funding.

"The amount of money that we would borrow would be probably in the range of $5 million, but the good news is, that your prisoners that you're paid for would make those payments," said Grieshop.

"The picture overall, if we looked at it today, would show that we would put less cash out of ... the general fund into the jail fund with the new jail than we would with the old."

The magistrates voted to hire Schenkel Shultz without a notice to proceed to design.

Codell was one of two firms which made presentations for the construction manager position Tuesday.

"We had two people apply for that position. ... I think they both done excellent jobs, but one had built several jails," said Stallard, referring to Codell.

The magistrates also added that they want local contractors and companies to be used whenever it is possible and cost-effective.

In other business, the fiscal court:

n approved the removal of asbestos on properties involved in the Harlan County Flood Mitigation Project;

n approved a bid of $14,000 by Lightspeed Construction for demolition in the Cawood area;

n approved a motion to authorize the judge-executive to sign the transfer of Telemedia's cable franchise agreement to Sequel;

n approved a motion to authorize the judge-executive to sign all documents related to the filing of an application to CDBG Public Facilities Program for the Ages-Brookside Water Project;

n accepted Kelly Street in the Fugate community as a county road.