ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996                   TAG: 9606090022
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER 

PROPOSED JAIL SITE TO GET MORE STUDY

The New River Valley Regional Jail Authority decided Friday to take a close look at its proposed site in Dublin to make sure it would accommodate its planned 240-bed jail.

The authority approved an agreement with the engineering firm of Thompson & Litton to make a topographic survey of the proposed site on the former Burlington Industries property acquired by Dublin as an industrial park.

The survey also will make sure the area defined for the L-shaped jail structure is big enough for it, and determine how the facility would be aligned in relation to the site. If the defined site is too short in one direction or another, there would be time to renegotiate with the town before construction time.

Tests will be carried out to make sure the subsurface conditions and foundation are adequate for the project.

The authority's option on the Dublin site expires in a few more months, which is another reason to examine the site as soon as possible.

"We know nothing about the subsurface of the site," said Bill King of Thompson & Litton. In fact, he said, the exact dimensions of the site still need to be outlined.

The Dublin site was one of five potential jail sites that got preliminary examinations by Thompson & Litton last year. Localities covered by the regional jail will be Radford and the counties of Pulaski, Giles and Grayson.

The authority also agreed to have its engineering firm prepare specifications and advertise a request for proposals on the project, using a construction manager to oversee the project all the way back to the design.

This concept differs from the traditional general contractor process, in which the cost is not known until bids are opened. A construction manager guarantees the cost during the design phase.

In other business, the authority hired the New River Valley Planning District Commission as its fiscal agent and to provide administrative assistance until the authority has its own employees. The cost of the staff assistance will be costs of commission employees' time plus 15 percent for overhead.

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