County, sheriff's office consider firm for jail expansion study

"I feel really good about being able to call these people and get an honest opinion about whether it worked or not," Noack said.

Noack said the study could cost about $115,000 and take about three months to complete. He said he hopes for the study to begin in December or January so it can be completed near the first quarter of 2014. He said the firm's familiarization with the Texas Jail Commission standards is a plus, as they will be the framework for any jail renovations.

The firm selected will examine whether to add additional floors to the existing facility or construct a new correctional facility elsewhere to accommodate the inmate growth, Noack said.

The county inmate population has increased about 60 percent during the last eight years and the jail is nearing its capacity. The county could add up to four extra floors—each capable of holding 168 beds—that could cost upwards of $18 million. Building a new jail with 1,200-1,500 beds could cost as much as $150 million.

Noack said he would like to see another jail built, but other commissioners may want to add on to the existing facility.

"My personal opinion is that the county needs to move forward with a new facility and ultimately a criminal justice complex where we would have a jail, a courthouse, all the trappings of a criminal justice center that would take us 50 years down the road," he said.