The Pike County Commission heard from yet another architect as they continue to gather information before taking the next step in constructing a new jail for the county.

“My thoughts are to let them come,” said chairman Robin Sullivan. “If  another called  right now and asked to be on the agenda, I’d put them on there. We can’t get any bad information right now; everything is helpful.”

Monday, it was SouthBuild that spoke to the commissioners, explaining that they exclusively work on county-level jails and have built rural facilities totaling $450 million.

Like some of the architects that came before, the firm highlighted the need for a design that requires less staff.

“Over the life of the jail, staffing is the major cost,” said James Langford, architect. “The facility construction costs end; staffing doesn’t.”

The staffing over a 30-year period for a jail is typically 80 percent of the cost, Langford showed the commission.

Sullivan said there is no timeline for exactly when the commission will move forward with the construction. TCU Consulting Services, he said, is still gathering some information and answering some questions from the commission right now before moving forward and getting public input early next year.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved a revision to the budget from the prior fiscal year to reflect the actual income and expenditures.

• Approved a resolution revision to continue work on County Road 7714.

• Approved the hire of Hillary Bassett as an accountant in the commission office.

• Named Jordan Cox the safety director for the county

The commission voted to move their next regularly scheduled meeting to Tuesday, November 13 due to county offices being closed Monday for Veterans Day.

The work session will begin at 5:15 p.m. and will be followed by the business meeting at 6 p.m. The commission meets upstairs at the Alabama Department of Public Health.