The Dallas County Commission says $12 million has been spent on major renovations to the Dallas County Jail and buildings on its campus to repair damage from the EF-2 tornado in January 2023.
A statement from commissioners on Friday lists many projects completed in the three years since the tornado hit and gave an outline of costs for the projects to show it was not $17 million as reported to news agencies recently by Sheriff Mike Granthum.
The commission said several buildings were rebuilt, including the Perry Varner Center, Juvenile Detention Center, the gym, technology center and the classroom building.
The jail and detention center got new roofs, and crews abated asbestos and lead, the statement said.
Commissioners said throughout the process, the county has taken steps to protect electrical systems and other sensitive components from further deterioration during delays.
Costs for remediation totaled $7.4 million, construction at the detention center was $2.5 million and reroofing cost $2.9 million, the commission reports.
“These are the only payments made to date,” the release states.
As for the jail, which remains closed, the report said architects and engineers have continued preparing the final phase of the project, which focuses on mechanical, electrical, and interior finish repairs inside the jail. That phase was formally put out for bid last month, marking what commissioners called “a critical step toward moving the project forward to completion.”
About the final phase of the construction, Commission Chair Judge Jimmy Nunn added “We sent the bid specs to the insurance company. We are waiting on their response whether it will be approved.” He also said at this point there is no start date for the construction to begin. And he said, “We do not know whether it will exceed (the insurance coverage) until we know the amount they will agree to pay on the final phase.”
The commission said it must act “prudently and in a fiscally responsible manner,” noting that major construction cannot proceed without reasonable assurance of insurance reimbursement for tornado-related damage. Reducing un-reimbursed costs, they said, remains a priority.
Even so, commissioners stressed that completing the jail and returning staff and inmates to a safe, functional facility “as expeditiously as circumstances allow” remains their overriding goal.
“The Dallas County Commission remains committed to securing the funds owed under our insurance policy and to completing the Dallas County Jail project in a responsible and financially sound manner,” the statement reads.
The Commission thanked residents for their patience and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability as the project moves into its final stages.
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