With just over

a month to go before Fayette County opens its new jail, the county's Public

Facilities Authority approved nearly $1 million in contracts Monday morning

to furnish the jail.

County attorney

Bill McNally said the 11 contracts totalled just over $971,000 and covered

everything from audiovisual equipment to furniture.

McNally said

the tentative opening date for the jail is Dec. 15, but depends on when

a lot of the furniture arrives.

In the meantime,

McNally is in the process of drawing up another contract with Union City

to continue housing 75 Fayette County prisoners. The current contract

expires Nov. 19 and McNally said the county does not want to leave the

city in a lurch.

"We don't

want them to be telling other people they are full and can't take any

other prisoners, and then all of ours leave the next day," he said.

He's currently

negotiating with city officials to extend the contract and make sure both

sides are protected in the final contract.