Grant County Jail construction planning process starts today with kickoff meeting

EPHRATA — Grant County officials and representatives of the general contractor and architects will be meeting today to discuss the initial phases of construction of the new Grant County Jail. Tom Gaines, Grant County Central Services director, said Grant County Commissioners selected Lydig Construction out of Spokane Valley as the general contractor. “All of our pieces are in place,” Gaines said. “The team is now together, and we’re (planning) the next six to eight months.” Thursday’s meeting is the start of that process. “Everybody that’s responsible for getting this thing built meets in the same place,” Gaines said, and will review the work done to date. “Where we’ve been and where we’re going.” County voters approved a three-tenths of 1% increase in the county’s sales tax in 2019, with the money to go toward law and justice projects including a new jail. Grant County Commissioners approved the sale of up to $90 million in limited tax general obligation bonds for the project in July 2022.