Building on the four extra rooms and gymnasium at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center should begin soon.

Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard met with the architect and low-bidding contractor, Randy Lovelady of CRL Contractors, to whittle away items that would allow construction at a lower price than the original low bid of $400,000.

Ballard told members of the Dallas County Commission Monday that the architect, Lovelady and facility director Marcus Hannah were able to pare down the cost of construction to $320,000.

The county had hoped to build the additions for $250,000, Ballard said.

“But we got it down to a manageable number,” he said.

The changes do not affect the integrity of the building.

Commissioners approved the contract.

Commissioner Roy Moore called the negotiations a “win-win situation.”

Increases in the original plan were caused by having to raise the gym’s roof from about 10 feet to 20 feet. Inside the detention center, security equipment also pushed over the price tag.

County records show about six other counties bring juveniles to Dallas County to hold them. Those counties pay about $18,000 a year. The two other counties are considering using the detention center.

The center opened in August 2008. Capacity of the present center is eight females and 12 males. Dallas County’s facility is one of 12 juvenile detention centers in the state.