Fayette

County is getting a new survey of the proposed

site of a planned new complex of public

buildings, including a jail and judicial complex.

Surveyors

will provide detailed topographical information

using two-foot intervals to help architects

decide where the buildings should go.

The

new jail is the county's most urgent need, but

decisions on the exact site of the jail have been

put off while county officials prepare a master

plan for the property.

Originally

33 acres between Lee Street and Jimmie Mayfield

Boulevard, the site has been growing with recent

purchases.

Plans

are to connect the new site with the current jail

and judicial complex, at Long and Lee streets, by

buying properties in between, but officials

aren't revealing any details of the purchases

until all the negotiations are complete.

Commissioners

last week voted to spend up to $20,000 on the

survey, covering about 45 to 50 acres.

The

new jail is expected to cost between $22 million

and $33 million, depending upon whether

commissioners decide to add onto the old jail or

build a completely new one. Master planning for

the property will include identifying sites for

the jail, courthouse and a future administrative

complex.

The

administrative complex won't be needed for

another ten years or so, but County Commission

Chairman Harold Bost has repeatedly insisted on a

master plan to include that facility so all the

public buildings can be fitted on the property as

the need arises.

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