After voters approved a $39.5 million bond proposal in November to build a new law enforcement center that would replace the county’s dilapidated jail, Waller County officials said plans for the new facility are underway. Schematic designs for the new jail located in Hempstead were approved in late March, and representatives from Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects have moved into an eight-week-long design development phase, according to County Construction Manager Danny Rothe. The county selected Sedalco as the contractor for the jail. “We wanted to have a very experienced jail contractor,” Rothe said. “Our jail architect has done 40 jails, and our contractor has built 40 jails.” County officials called for the bond election to be held in November when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards threatened to close the existing facility and require Waller County to house inmates at other county jails. The new jail will be able to house 200 inmates, according to planning documents. Rothe said after the design development phase, the county will put out an “early package” that includes dirt work around the site, underground utility work and foundation work. He said he expects the package to be sent out for bid in August. Construction will not start until late August or mid-September, and inmates will not move into the new jail until the first quarter of 2020.