SHERMAN, TX -- After years of talk about upgrading the Grayson County Jail, county leaders say they're closer to making that happen.
But it's a decision that has some residents upset. Rashi Vats found out where the county stands on the facility's future.

After weeks of deliberating over whether to privatize the jail, and which company to use, the commissioners voted to privatize the jail, and chose Southwest Correctional to operate it. They're back up choice is CEC.

Several Grayson County residents, like Tony Beaverson, say they're unhappy they didn't get the chance to vote on the issue.

"I'm really disappointed," Beaverson said. "They are making a deliberate decision to deny the people the right to vote on having a new jail."

Now that the decision has been made, Southwest Correctional will provide the commissioners with operational costs and completion dates.

"Overall you said you can do this, now can you really do this and overall and we will start the negotiations their and if necessary we will go to vendor number two," said County Judge Drue Bynum.

Vendor number one is excited about the opportunity to be working with the community.

"The good news about privatizing the jail is that we have to work hand in hand with the Sheriff. We have a great relationship with Sheriff Gary and Deputy Brown and we are really excited to continue to develop that," said Southwestern Correctional's attorney, Melissa McConnell.

While commissioners decided on a company, the plan still isn't set in stone.

"Right now with the information that we have, at least I am leaning towards the privatization of the Grayson County Jail," said Bynum.
"We do believe we can make the public safety criteria that the public wants and hopefully we can do it and save the county some taxpayers money as well."

Bynum says if taxes need to be raised to pay for the operation, and public safety cannot be met, the county commissioners will look at other options.