ASHDOWN, Ark. -- The opening of the new Little River County Detention Center has been delayed until 2023 because of supply chain issues.
County officials were hopeful they would get the keys to the new jail in December but that has not worked out, said Little River County Sheriff Bobby Walraven.
Construction on the $8 million detention center has had delays due to supply chain issues and wet weather, Walraven said. Some construction is still needed on the outside of the building and the parking lot, Walraven said.
"Most of the inside it complete. We're hoping we can get in there soon," he said.
Little River County voters approved a bond in September 2019 to finance the new building and a 3/8-cent sales tax to help pay for it and a quarter-cent tax for maintenance and operation. The measures went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
The new jail is on U.S. Highway 71 on the north side of Ashdown near Cossatot Community College University of Arkansas. County officials looked at four locations before deciding on the site for the building.
The Southbuild Team, which includes Spirit Architecture Group and Smith-Doyle Contractors, are building the detention center. The Tennessee-based team has worked on a number of correctional centers in several states, including Arkansas.
The current jail, located downtown next to the Little River County Courthouse, holds a maximum of 24 inmates. As a result, the Sheriff's Office often houses inmates in other county jails, which leads to higher costs in housing and transportation as well as lower felony bonds.
The new detention center can house between 60 and 80 inmates.