THOMASVILLE — The former Thomas County Prison building will be demolished, but first, contents will be auctioned.

Thomas County government departments have removed prison items the various entities can use. Remaining items will be declared surplus and auctioned.

Some 15 to 20 stainless steel tables at which inmates ate will be auctioned.

“They are very much in demand. They retail for about $1,500 each,” said Thomas County Commissioner Wiley Grady, commission public properties committee chairman.

Prison walk-in freezers and coolers, which can be removed, will be auctioned.

Also to be auctioned are prison razor wire fencing and steel from prison bars, in addition to items from other areas of county government.

Grady said other prisons want some of the items.

The prison, which opened in the 1920s and closed June 30, will be demolished.

“Our people will do the demolition. We can do that in-house,” Grady said.

Demolition probably will not take place until the fall.

Commissioners voted in late 2016 to close the prison, citing a lack of funding from the Georgia Department of Corrections and problems with inmates on work details.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820