Visitation of inmates at the Bradley County Jail has been shut down until March 19 due to required jail improvements.
James Bradford of the Sheriff’s Office said the department "is currently making upgrades to 4,000 lights throughout the facility, including the Correctional Facility. Due to those upgrades, the visitation of inmates will be temporarily shut down until March 19 in order to complete the upgrades in a timely manner.
"The new LED lighting will provide an energy efficient solution to old fluorescent lighting that constantly needs replacement, which is an unnecessary expense to the sheriff office’s yearly budget. Additionally, the outdated fluorescent lighting that burned 96-watts per hour will be modernized with an LED application that only uses 30-watts per hour.
"The new lighting will improve lighting conditions, maintenance, and heat load throughout the sheriff office’s facility by adding the LED lighting retrofit to existing light fixtures. Recently, the sheriff’s office completed the installation of computer controls for 42 HVAC units to include economizer controls which allow outside air to be used in order to save electricity, and variable speed motor controls that significantly reduce maintenance costs by lessening the wear and tear on fan belts and motors. Each unit’s upgrade also included a diagnostic and control system screen that is controlled remotely by computer, which allows optimum performance while using less energy in order to save money.
"The remote computer also gives the ability for maintenance staff to monitor compressor pressures, amp draw, air flow, and humidity. Support Services Captain Mike Boggess along with the sheriff office’s maintenance staff partnered with Energy Services Project to complete the lighting and HVAC updgrades. Global Energy Services was responsible for installation of the new LED lighting, while Electronic Controls Inc. completed the upgrades to the HVAC units."
Sheriff Eric Watson stated, “Over the next few years, the upgrade to the lighting and HVAC units will save tens of thousands of dollars which is an unnecessary expense to taxpayers. The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, like other governmental agencies, collects the yearly operating budget from local tax revenues. Our agency is committed to providing the community the highest level of service – while also responding to ever-changing needs to diminish the cost of operations. Although the lighting upgrade will disrupt the visitation of inmates housed in our Correctional Facility, the completion of this process will ultimately be in the best interest of taxpayers’ monies.”
Sheriff candidate Steve Lawson commented, "The issues that have been found in the jail are just another example of why Bradley County desperately needs a full-time sheriff - one who is dedicated to every aspect and detail the office requires.
"These deficiencies are a direct result of the continued lack of leadership within the department. Although the current sheriff will downplay this failure and tell you that the department has 60 days to correct the issues found, under my administration, critical details such as jail maintenance will not be overlooked or minimized due to placing more focus on outside interests and less on the job I would be privileged to serve."