NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- Comal County and Yates/Sundt Joint Venture announced Wednesday that they have agreed to remove the renovation of the Comal County Sheriff’s Office from the scope of the Comal County Jail construction project.

• New jail expected to open in 2019
• Sheriff’s office renovation was identified as “To Be Determined” 
• County still committed to begin renovating the sheriff’s office in 2020

The agreement will allow Yates/Sundt to focus on completing the jail project while the county explores new options for completing the renovation of the current sheriff’s office.

“This step is the best way for Yates/Sundt and the county to move forward and provide the best facilities for our sheriff’s office and jail staff while also being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” County Judge Sherman Krause said. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Yates/Sundt and celebrating the opening of the new jail early next year.”

On March 17, 2017, Comal County entered into a construction manager-at-risk agreement with Yates/Sundt to build a new jail and renovate the existing sheriff’s office, establishing a construction cost limitation of $62 million based on estimates at the time.

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On February 8, Comal County and Yates/Sundt reached a guaranteed maximum price agreement for the jail portion of the project of $64 million. The increased cost was primarily because of cost increases in the detention and security equipment industry.

The status of the sheriff’s office renovation in the project was identified as “To Be Determined” and removed from the scope of the GMP because the jail’s cost at that time did not leave enough funds from the 2015 voter-approved bond issuance to adequately fund the renovation.

Pending approval by Commissioners Court on Thursday, the agreement will formally remove the sheriff’s office renovation from the scope of the project.

The county remains committed to begin renovating the Sheriff’s Office in 2020, as originally scheduled, Krause said.

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“We are beginning conversations on how best to complete that project,” he said. “We will ensure that all of our Sheriff’s Office deputies and civilian staff have the resources and facilities they need to protect and serve Comal County residents.”