Ray County’s ongoing jail renovation project remains on track as officials work through building repairs, staffing shortages and equipment procurement issues. During a recent Ray County Commission meeting, Sheriff Gary Blackwell provided updates on the facility’s progress, noting construction is moving forward despite a major oversight which required a contractor to rework a portion of the bid. “We had a big screw-up,” Blackwell said. “Thankfully, we caught it yesterday and got the contractor to walk it again, mark the walls and rework the bid.” The changes involved switching from stainless steel to mild steel panels in key areas of the facility. Blackwell emphasized the move could save thousands of dollars per sheet, making the renovation more cost-effective in the long term. “A 4x8 sheet of stainless steel was $1,100,” said Blackwell. “Mild steel is $333 a sheet. If we can use mild steel and paint, that’s what we’ll do. At the end of the day, we need a facility where we can…