CORINTH – Construction at the Alcorn County Justice Center and regional jail site is not too far behind schedule, even though hampered by 44 days of rain.

Architects, contractors and engineers met with county supervisors on Tuesday for a monthly construction update and reported that if the weather holds, they can get back on schedule soon, said county engineer Ricky Newcomb.

The group was specifically concerned about whether the county would pay an additional charge to stabilize poor soil in one area of the construction site.

Newcomb recommended using a mix of stone and a synthetic material as a base so the contractors could continue working in the wet conditions at the site.

However, after reviewing project documents, Newcomb said he did not think the county was responsible for submitting a change order, which would generate an associated charge. Newcomb had estimated that the needed material could cost considerably more than $100,000.

“What we agreed is that the contractor will continue the work and we will monitor closely, and if they feel there is additional cost to the county they will address the matter at the end of the project,” Newcomb said.

Soil conditions were tested throughout the site before a decision was made on where to place the building.

However, any area like the 22-acre site on South Harper Road where the jail is being built is likely to have varying soil conditions throughout the property, Newcomb told supervisors in January, when the issue came to light.

The 148,000-square-foot facility will house a justice center to include county justice court, Corinth municipal court, the sheriff’s office, Corinth Police Department, Alcorn County emergency management and Alcorn County E-911; a 300-bed Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate facility; a 240-bed Alcorn County detention center; a 50-bed trusty dorm and a 70-bed dorm for inmates working to pay restitution.

Contact Lena Mitchell at (662) 287-9822 or lena.mitchell@djournal.com.