Shelby County’s new adult jail and Sheriff’s Operation Center will cost the county some $14.7 million.

The county commission granted a bid Monday night to B.L. Harbert for the jail and SOC, which will be located at the end of McDow Road near the Juvenile Detention Center in Columbiana.

Bids for the jail and SOC ranged from $14.662 million to $15.696 million and were received from B.L. Harbert, a Birmingham company; Brice Building Co. of Birmingham; Doster Construction of Birmingham; Batson-Cook Company of Atlanta, Ga.; and Ray-Bell Construction Co. of Brentwood, Tenn.

Also accepted were extras for the jail including exterior sun control devices at a cost of $7,000 and solid countertops in lobby restrooms at a cost of $4,000.

The total bid accepted from Harbert was $14.673 million.

Commissioner Don Armstrong made the motion to accept this bid.

&uot;Several years ago, we set aside money to do this. Now, it looks as if we’ll be able to pay for (the adult jail and SOC) without borrowing any money,&uot; Armstrong said.

&uot;That speaks well of the process we went through &045; of our time and effort.

&uot;Being patient and willing to do it the right way will end up saving tax dollars for the county,&uot; he said.

Commissioner Dan Acker agreed.

&uot;I don’t think there’s another county out there who could do what we’re doing,&uot; he said.

Bids were awarded on a variety of other items as well.

Bobby Meeks Environmental received the bid for wet well and clarifier clean-out at an hourly rate of $135 for standard hours and $185 for non-standard hours.

The material disposal fee at the permitted site will be 3 cents per gallon.

Transportation South Inc. received the bid for a $32,000 1995 model used transport bus.

Brenntag Mid-South Inc. was awarded the bid for powdered activated carbon at a cost of $17.50 per 50-pound delivered bag.

The only other bid received was $19.50 per bag.

Quality Recording Solutions LLC was awarded the bid for a digital recording system for the jail at a cost of $23,788.

One other bid was received: $43,455 from Dictaphone Corporation