Construction management fees for the Morgan County Jail Annex will cost $161,110 more than what was projected when the project was initiated more than a year ago.

Morgan County Commissioners voted to amend the original project management agreement with Volkert Inc. on Aug. 29, 2013, increasing management fees from $290,000 to $451,110 and extending the duration of management services until the end of the project.

Expanding the size of the project from 300 to 450 beds resulted in the estimated cost rising from $5 to $7 million to about $9 million, according to Commission Chairman Ray Long.

“Management service fees are calculated as a percentage of the cost of the project,” Long stated. “That’s the reason for adjusting the management cost.”

Long said the Morgan County jail currently has a population of about 450 inmates and could house up to 500.

“The jail is 10 years old,” he added. “The annex will provide enough additional beds to take care of our need for another 20 years.”

The opening of bids for the project is scheduled on April 16.

Commissioners also approved payment of $46,090 to Aqua Marine Enterprises Inc. for the construction of a safe room at the Brindlee Mountain Volunteer Fire Department in Morgan City.

District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie said the above ground facility is the first public emergency shelter to be built in the community. It will accommodate up to 100 people.