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Bernalillo County will pay $95,000 to hire a private consultant to make sure all systems are a go at its new jail.

Late last month, the county signed a contract with consultant Mike Murphy to "make sure all systems are functioning properly" at the $86 million lockup, county spokeswoman Liz Hamm said.

The money comes from the county's $99 million general fund budget, she said.

County leaders have struggled in their effort to build the massive Metropolitan Detention Center on the West Side.

The project, started in 1999, has seen several delays, about $5 million in contingency fund expenses and still isn't open for business.

And last week, the county was put on notice that its main contractor on the project is suing for $5.1 million because of the delays.

That lawsuit pushed construction-related legal claims against the county to $7.2 million.

County Manager Juan Vigil said through Hamm that the government needs an expert in opening new facilities.

The facility is scheduled to house inmates in mid-December.

"The reason we contracted with Mr. Murphy is because we are at a point in the construction to commission the building, which means that all operating systems are to be functioning as described in the operating manual, that staff is to be trained in how to properly use the system, and to review any other matters of concern to the county as the building is put into operation," Vigil said.

The county also plans to hire another consultant to sort through legal claims by contractors Bradbury Stamm Construction Co. and K.L. House Construction Co.

The two companies claim delays at the jail cost them money and the opportunity to work on other projects.

The legal consultant is expected to build a database of work done on the jail site.

In response to the lawsuits, one filed last week, Vigil said Wednesday that the county might be owed money, as well.

The amount being sought by contractors is their estimate and "does not include liquidated damages for Bernalillo County caused by the contractor's delays, so they may owe us money," Vigil said.

At issue in the lawsuits are change orders, or additional work that had to be done by contractors at the request of the county.

The contractors say the county hasn't paid them for extra work at the jail, more than a year behind schedule.