PFA Selects Bond Agent, Attorney for JCSO Jail Expansion Project

The Jasper County Public Facilities Authority (PFA) voted to select a bond agent and bond attorney last week to proceed with the Jasper County jail expansion project.

Raymond James of Atlanta was selected at the bond agent and Roger Murray of Murray Barnes Finister of Atlanta as the bond attorney. Over the past year since the authority was formed in April 2021, members have conducted several meetings with representatives of the agency and law firm in an information seeking manner to determine how to proceed with funding future projects. Authority members did have a few procedural questions of the bond attorney prior to the vote.

In regards to the jail expansion project, Chairman Gerald Stunkel noted that a PFA representative and two county commissioners had a meeting planned with the architectural firm Precision Planning and Barnsley Construction Group to discuss preliminary cost estimates of the project minus any costs of furnishing the facility. With regards to that meeting held on April 22, County Manager Mike Benton said that the preliminary estimates for the project came in higher than anticipated.

In other action taken during the PFA meeting, members voted to allow its audit be a component of the county’s overall audit.

The authority is also seeking to add a member to its five-person board as Charles Forsythe did not seek reappointment. As Mr. Forsythe was the treasurer, the board will need to appoint a treasurer.

Members discussed planning another meeting prior to their next regularly scheduled meeting of June 7 but decided that if such was necessary a a called meeting could be set.