Liberty County Commissioners Court took another step toward construction of a new county jail Thursday, July 23, approving White Construction as the construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the long-awaited project. In May 2026, commissioners court selected White Construction as CMAR, but this was the next step in signing contracts with the Houston-based company.
The 3-1 vote came during a special meeting July 23 after commissioners met in executive session to discuss the proposed agreement. Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the agreement with White Construction, which was seconded by Pct. 4 Commissioner Gerald Kolarik. Pct. 3 Commissioner David Whitmire joined them in voting in favor, while Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Karbowski cast the lone dissenting vote.
Karbowski said he supported moving forward with the project but preferred waiting until the court’s regular meeting the following Tuesday, July 28, so he could review the financial details with the county auditor.
“I still would love to wait until Tuesday. We’re only talking three days,” Karbowski said. “That way I can go over the numbers and stuff with our money man, the auditor, and look at this and make sure everything is right.”
Kolarik acknowledged those concerns but noted Thursday’s action authorizes only the initial construction management services.
“At this stage of the game, although I do agree with Commissioner Karbowski that we need to look at the numbers going forward, at this point only binds the county to the $60,000 fees for them to initiate their work,” Kolarik said. “We need to get our auditor involved in the entire contract.”
Construction manager at risk is a process that brings the contractor into the planning process early. Rather than simply bidding on completed plans, White Construction will work with the project’s architect to review the design, estimate construction costs, recommend cost-saving measures and eventually establish a guaranteed maximum price before construction begins.
County Judge Jay Knight said the total cost of the project has not yet been finalized. While officials are hoping to cap the costs at around $100 million, that figure remains subject to change as White Construction and the architect continue evaluating material prices and refining the design.
“Right now we’re looking at $100 million. We’d like to do 600 beds. We’re going to do 400 for sure. But we would build out for the 600 capacity to add the other 200 beds.”
Knight said the county plans to finance the project through certificates of obligation, which do not require voter approval, and expects repayment to occur over approximately 30 years. He noted Liberty County’s strong bond rating should help secure favorable interest rates.
The proposed jail will be built on county-owned property northwest of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office on SH 146 north in Liberty and is being designed with future growth in mind. The design will allow additional housing areas to be completed in the future without constructing an entirely new facility.
The new jail is intended to replace and supplement the county’s aging 285-bed facility on Beaumont Avenue, which has faced years of overcrowding and ongoing repairs. Knight said the existing jail will continue operating during construction and will remain in use afterward, potentially serving as overflow housing or for lower-risk inmates if needed.
Knight said the county’s jail capacity problems worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic brought jury trials to a standstill for more than a year, leaving many inmates awaiting trial for extended periods and placing additional strain on the jail system.
He also expressed confidence in White Construction’s ability to lead the project.
“They know the people here and they know the area,” Knight said. “They know the suppliers, they know the vendors. I think they’ll do us a really good job, and they have a sincere attitude toward getting Liberty County’s new jail completed.”
White Construction was also the construction manager at risk for the Liberty County Law Enforcement Center in Liberty, which was completed in 2023. The company also built the County’s Northwest Annex, which was opened earlier this year.