Sheriff wants to add more cells now instead of later; Jail project progressing on schedule, within guaranteed construction budget

Tammy helm/Tribune photo Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and jail administrators on Tuesday look at the progress of the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center now under construction. To the right are stacks of cells that were installed this week. Sheriff Bill Martin is asking for an additional 16 cells.

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin has asked the county commissioners to include 16 additional beds in the new Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, which would add another $385,000 to the project, according to one construction official.

The Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center currently is on schedule and within the guaranteed construction price of $6.25 million, according to Gary Walker, project leader with Universal Construction Company of Lenexa.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday got an update on the new jail project and also heard the sheriff's justification of why 16 beds should be added to the facility now instead of later.