Building a new county jail in three years and creating a Restrictive Intermediate Punishment Program Day Report Center in a couple of weeks took a few steps forward Thursday.

Mercer County commissioners unanimously authorized architects L. Robert Kimball and Associates, State College, Pa., to proceed with design of a 266-bed county jail.

Commissioners also awarded contracts with Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission and UPMC Horizon for the Day Reporting Center. During an agenda meeting Wednesday, Commissioner Brian W. Shipley said the center could be opening its doors at UPMC Horizon, Farrell, in a week to 10 days.

Site for the estimated $17-million jail has not been selected, but the Mercer County Prison Board has its eyes on land near the state Regional Corrections Facility in Findley Township.

The prison board has not heard if the state Department of Corrections would donate the land to the county, Shipley said during a prison board meeting Monday. A group of Thompson Road residents want the access to the new jail to be off Route 258 instead of the dead-end Thompson Road.

Overcrowding at the current 114-bed jail in Mercer was cited as the reason for needing a new jail. A portion of a county taxpayer-supported $34-million bond issue would fund the project. If the project stays on schedule, the jail should be built by the end of 2003.

The Restrictive IPP Day Reporting Center would provide drug and alcohol treatment and counseling for offenders of nonviolent crimes, in which alcohol or drugs may have been a cause.

As part of their sentences offenders would be required to report to the center.

For $3,510 per month, paid by a state grant, Behavior Health Commission will assess the offenders for their drug and alcohol problems and manager their cases, said Mark Benedetto, county community corrections coordinator.

UPMC Horizon will provide the facilities and the staff for treating offenders, he said. The hospital system will be paid $18,071 monthly.

Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor abstained from voting for the UPMC Horizon contract because she is on the hospital board of directors. However, she voiced support of the program.

Both contracts are valid through the end of this year, but may be renewed if a $350,000-grant from the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency is renewed, Benedetto said.