Supervisors OK jail construction contract

HERNANDO — The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract for construction of a new county jail.

The Commercial Appeal reports supervisors voted 3-2 yesterday for the contract with Oklahoma-based Flintco, which submitted a $13.8-million construction bid.

There were at least two unsuccessful Mississippi bidders: Murphy & Sons of Southaven, which bid $13.6 million; and Panola Construction, at $13.7 million.

County officials say the Murphy and Panola proposals did not comply with clear specifications for experience — erecting at least two jails in the last five years of at least $8 million each. They said Flintco, as “lowest and best bidder,” did meet that requirement.

Next in the process is issuing a notice to proceed, which County Administrator Michael Garriga expects “in the next week to 10 days.”

Source: Commercial Appeal