The Harlan County Fiscal Court approved the preliminary site plan for the new jail at Thursday's regular meeting.

Harold Fletcher of Schenkel Shultz Architecture presented the updated plan, which includes 85 parking spaces to accommodate jail staff and visitors.

"What we've done is put a truck pull-in, back-up for loading," said Fletcher.

Fletcher said there were still some specifics that need to be worked out, but the fiscal court's approval gave the firm the ability to proceed with adding details to the plan.

County engineer Leo Miller added that he wanted a road added that would give access to the back of the building. He explained use of the road would be restricted and not available to the general public.

"On the floor plan, ... we are showing an additional overhang porch on the building," Fletcher said. "That will give us a dry area, or covering, for both the deliveries and the work release."

Jailer Denny Pace added that he thought the addition was a good idea because it will provide some shelter when deliveries are being made during inclement weather.

"With a building this size, you're going to have a lot of deliveries in inclement weather," he said.

The magistrates also voted to move ahead with dynamic soils testing. The testing will cost over $11,000, but structural engineer Ethan Buell said the results would provide information that will be useful in the structural design of the building.

He said if the findings are favorable, it could save much more money than it costs to do the testing.

In other business, the fiscal court:

n awarded bids for gravel and delivery to Nally and Haydon;

n awarded bids for a 1991 Ford Club Wagon van and a 1991 Chevrolet Beauville Van to discount carpet at bids of $700 and $600 respectively;

n held the second reading and approved an ordinance authorizing and improving the issuance of General Obligation Improvement Bonds for the new detention center project;

n approved an agreement between the Kentucky State Police and Harlan County to establish a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force in the KSP Post 13 area. Sheriff Steve Duff said it would add another officer in the county without cost to the county;

n heard for attorney Russell Alred on behalf of Red Miniard concerning a bridge. Alred said after the county worked on the bridge, Miniard is no longer able to transport his boat and equipment across the bridge as before. Grieshop said he would have someone look into the situation;

n approved the appointment of Betty Ingram to the Harlan County Public Library Board of Trustees for a term to expire Dec. 30, 2007;

n approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Wallins giving Town Marshal David Williams the authority to go out into the county;

n approved a memorandum of agreement between Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet and the county for funding needed to perform the Brownies Creek-Martins Fork AML Groundwater Contamination study in the 2004-2006 biennium;

n voted to give ARH $100,000 in coal severance money for a detoxification center to be located in McDowell.