A number of Shelby County projects are progressing, county officials say.

County manager Alex Dudchock told commissioners Monday morning that the side panels of the old jail have been removed and that project is progressing.

More than 950 tons of concrete were removed with, leaving the &8220;skeletal remains&8221; of that building.

A bid for demolition of the former jail will be opened Jan. 19.

&8220;The demolition will take the building down to the slab,&8221; Dudchock said.

Earlier plans for a three-story county services building to be located on the site were nixed in favor of a one-story structure with parking.

Dudchock said the 8,500-square-foot facility will feature two operating units, the license office and a driver&8217;s license testing site operated by the state of Alabama.

Rising construction costs and a more indepth look at the site forced the change from the three-story plan to two one-story facilities.

Dudchock said the second one-story facility would be located on McDow Road in front of Adult Work Release.

This facility will serve as a county warehouse and archives/storage site.

The structure will also house facilities and the county shop. Dudchock said the bid date for this second one-story structure is set for April or May.

Other projects discussed during the county&8217;s meeting were:

– Work is progressing at Beeswax Creek Park also, according to Dudchock.

The joint project with Alabama Power Company will feature an Americans with Disabilities Act fishing pier of 160 feet, sidewalk and a picnic pavilion. Dudchock said he expects the park to be complete within 60 to 80 days.

&8220;This will give those who are wheelchair bound full (Lay Lake) lake access,&8221; he said.

– Construction began this week on the water treatment plant on the Coosa River, according to Utilities Manager Charles Lay.

– Lay also reported that the new water tank on Highway 280 is proceeding slowly.

He said however he expects it to be complete &8220;reasonably soon,&8221; indicating workers are dealing with topography issues near EBSCO.

– County engineer Randy Cole reported that work on the bridge along Highway 22 would be complete the first of March and the bridge and road should open at that time