The Morgan County Commission approved payment of $23,100 to the architectural firm of Godwin Barnett Woods at its regular meeting Tuesday morning, moving forward with the design for a proposed 240-bed jail annex.

Commission Chairman Ray Long reported that the two-acre site, which is located just off Lee Street, is currently being soil tested, and added that he is working with Decatur Utilities to relocate a sewer line on the property.

“The design for the facility is 99 percent complete,” Long stated. Hopefully, we’ll see dirt being moved on the site by the first of next year.

The two-story building will have barracks-style accommodations for 120 inmates on each level and will include office space for Community Corrections.

The facility is expected to cost about $3.5 million and will be financed in part with revenues derived from refunding of existing bond issues.

Long said additional bed space for non-violent prisoners is needed because the 500-bed jail is close to being filled to capacity.