Pittsburg County Commissioners hire architect to draw up jail addition

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Pittsburg County commissioners Monday agreed to hire an architect to draw up plans to expand the county's overcrowded jail.<br/><br/>The action comes after state jail inspector

Monday, April 4th 2005, 12:50 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Pittsburg County commissioners Monday agreed to hire an architect to draw up plans to expand the county's overcrowded jail.

The action comes after state jail inspector Don Garrison said he'll ask the attorney general's office to close the jail if improvements aren't made. The county has already been fined $29,000 for overcrowding. The fine is being appealed.

The commission will pay $17,000 for plans and blueprints for a proposal to expand the jail and add room for 30 more inmates. The jail is designed for 65 inmates but up to 100 have been crowded into it on some recent days.