The Justice Center Public Safety Committee of the Hamblen County Commission received a construction update April 14 and approved a constructive change directive to add a protective railing along a steep area at the building's west entrance.

During the committee meeting, Jared Dolwell, identified in the meeting as a staff member presenting the construction update, showed interior and exterior photos from the site and said, "These pictures don't do it justice," as he walked members through day rooms, courtrooms, the crow's nest observation area and circulation for secure inmate access. Dolwell told the committee that the project is undergoing inspections and systems testing, and that HVAC balancing, electrical rough-in and security communications work remain in progress.

Committee members pressed for details about a sloped landscape area on the west side of the main entrance that project staff characterized as steep and a potential fall hazard. To address the risk, staff presented a constructive change directive (CCD) to install a roughly 4-foot safety railing or similar barrier along about 150–200 linear feet of edge. Dolwell said the CCD was issued so the county could "track actual costs and not slow down the contractor" near the end of construction; the CCD was presented to the committee at an estimated cost of $20,000.

The presenter reported a current construction value and percent complete based on recent pay applications: value recorded as $95,038,489.11 and a project tracking figure of 98.55 percent complete with $93,659,194.11 in place, according to Dolwell's update. He also said staff plan radio system booster testing and continuing negotiations with the contract attorney, architect and county on remaining contract issues before final closeout.

After discussion about slope, railing height, and whether an existing security fence could be extended, the committee voted to approve the CCD. The meeting transcript does not record a named mover or a roll-call tally for that specific motion; the verbal vote was taken by voice and the item carried.

What happens next: staff said inspections and testing remain before ceilings are closed up; negotiations with the contractor are ongoing and expected to conclude before final project completion. The county will track the CCD as a separate cost item rather than a traditional change order to avoid delaying the contractor's work.

Committee members and county staff emphasized that remaining technical testing, final inspections and contract negotiations will continue through the project's closeout period.