A request by Beaufort County Commissioner Stan Deatherage to have the entire Beaufort County Board of Commissioners publicly grade requests for qualifications the county will receive regarding construction of a new jail and facility to house the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office was denied during the board’s meeting Monday.

The request was defeated by a 4-3 vote, with commissioners Jerry Langley (board chairman), Ed Booth, Robert Belcher, all Democrats, and Republican Al Klemm voting against Deatherage’s motion. Commissioners Hood Richardson, Gary Brinn and Deatherage voted for the motion.

During its Nov. 4 meeting, the board approved seeking qualifications from entities interested in doing architectural-design work for a new jail and sheriff’s office. It also approved seeking qualifications from entities interested in providing construction-management services regarding the building of a new jail.

The decisions do not commit the county to spending money to build a new jail, which would be located in the Chocowinity Industrial Park.

Richardson, Brinn and Deatherage have said Beaufort County taxpayers cannot afford to pay for a new jail.

“They’ve already decided who’s going to get this RFQ. It will b rigged,” Richardson said.

Brinn commended Deatherage for coming up with the idea of having the submissions graded publicly.

Last month, Richardson told the commissioners who voted for the architectural RFQ item that they have already “picked your man” for that work.

Jim Chrisman, the county’s finance director and assistant county manager, told the board last month that when it comes to architectural firms seeking the work, “We’ve got a list of four or five who have expressed interest.”

Interested firms must submit their qualifications statements by Monday.

The jail committee meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the county’s administrative offices at 121 W. Third St., Washington. It will review the submitted qualifications from interested parties.