BY FLORENCE GILKESON

Senior Writer

Action by a county task force has cleared the way for the Board of Commissioners to authorize the architect to complete construction plans for a public safety-detention center in Carthage.

If the board approves the plans recommended by the task force, the Ware-Bonsall architectural firm could complete the plans within two weeks.

Architect Glenn Ware said he hopes to open bids by late July and award a contract in September. Construction of the multi-million-dollar project will take about 21 months for completion.

The Major Capital Projects Task Force, chaired by Sheriff's Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey, met Wed-nesday to examine and approve a few changes needed in the site plan since the commissioners voted not to place the new government office building on the same tract with the public safety-detention center.

No changes were made in the design, a red brick and glass structure, with a three-story public safety portion and the detention center in mezzanine style with four levels, one underground.

"Every building we do is unique," Ware said in a brief interview after the task force meeting. "This is a unique site and a unique town."

The commissioners will also be asked to approve two alternates Monday. One concerns the use of the existing jail as a future addition, and the other alternate will cover a wall needed to provide storage space for the jail in the event the old jail is not used.

Contact Florence Gilkeson by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.