[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6547024,"mediaKeyId","3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7","parentId",3395580,"title","Residents and jail staff describe unsafe conditions at 201 Poplar; commissioners discuss hazard pay, new jail funding and oversight","audioSeconds",875,"startMs",3119000,"endMs",3994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7&start=3119&end=3994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7/thumbnail_3119000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6547024/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Residents-and-jail-staff-describe-unsafe-conditions-at-201-Poplar-commissioners-discuss-hazard-pay-new-jail-funding-and-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547024-91696aa5fbe5afbaf2761a3cdae1202a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439799&Signature=BgvWfe9QUqeniyUlr1mFeP~QIMd718pBW7u~6x8IA0QkQcNoCn4JhwG7jYSTHKoqXFD5FfPPsktZrVGIgWXGMr3ZRc9MRMDQNZJ5WkERA74geunFumXJeAAlU8wF5iDStNKJjcQnx7kIx7xQNu3gkHYsXViyiaw5HlVUHglLATxQWI09w8Hg18RGHiJOTwP4cewQm3Q2PBLA6RDlezEECz0-907w68XZou6bBoojC-EzAtrFHPBrjYfDp0~6Ev5ZP7PATZoSh1K9T-rwO3CMryPkckWev2V0YEjyxsEmDAVDE-qRZVImSd4Bz37ojYK~a4y6Tpsug-7vYVZwMkhKng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shelby County, TN","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple speakers at the Shelby County Commission meeting described hazardous and unsanitary conditions at the Shelby County jail facility at 201 Poplar and called on the commission to accelerate construction of a new jail and to add hazard pay for corrections and related staff.

Laramie Wheeler, advocacy coordinator at Just City, read a letter from an incarcerated person describing broken sinks and toilets, mold in showers, nonfunctioning smoke detectors, infestations of roaches and mice, limited access to the law library, delayed grievance responses and a lack of proper cleaning supplies. Wheeler cited Tennessee Code Annotated sections 41-4-108 through 41-4-116 and 41-4-111, which set standards for cleanliness, bathing facilities, water and bedding, and said those statutory requirements were not being met.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office employees also spoke. Jeremiah Trundle, who said he works for the Sheriff's Office, described repeated on-the-job exposure to hazardous conditions including exposure to fentanyl, COVID, scabies, bed bugs and a reported monkeypox case; he and other staff detailed physical assaults, threats and the need for personal protective responses. Trundle said other county corrections personnel receive hazard pay through other agencies and asked the commission to extend similar pay to his unit.

Sheriff's Office Chief Administrative Officer Alicia Lindsey told commissioners the office considers the jail hazardous and said job postings already disclose that. Lindsey said the department had not included additional hazard pay in its budget submission but said she would calculate costs if the commission requested figures. She later provided a department estimate for a possible hazard-pay amount for a 19-person unit: $19,608 annually (based on $43.33 per person per pay period in the example provided to commissioners).

Commissioners described prior efforts to address jail conditions. Several said they had sought state approval for a temporary sales-tax question to fund a new jail but that the bill was blocked in the House after passing the Senate; they said the county would continue to pursue options. Commissioner Ed Ford and others urged public advocates to pressure state representatives who opposed the measure.

Commissioners and public commenters also discussed oversight and accountability. Commissioner Sugarman asked for confirmation that three previously approved positions for a citizen law-enforcement review committee (to investigate jail conditions among other duties) appear in the commission's budget; she said the committee needs staff to investigate complaints. Advocate Laramie Wheeler and others urged the commission to follow through on both short-term repairs and long-term capital funding for a new facility.

Why it matters: Speakers characterized conditions at the county jail as a public-safety, legal and humanitarian problem; commissioners said the county must act on short-term remedial steps and on longer-term capital solutions while protecting staff and inmates.

Ending: The commission asked the Sheriff's Office to provide cost estimates for hazard pay and said commissioners would continue to press for state and local funding and follow-up reports in committee and budget subcommittees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shelby County, TN - --> Commission Meeting for May 19, 2025 - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Advocates and corrections employees described unsanitary, unsafe conditions at the Shelby County jail and urged commissioners to secure funding for a new facility and to add hazard pay for jail staff.","taxTitle","Shelby County, Tennessee","taxId",19114,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6547029,"Commission approves $1.04 million University of Memphis contract for public-health informatics and workforce development",426,2665000,3091000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7&start=2665&end=3091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7/thumbnail_2665000.jpg","/articles/6547029/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-104-million-University-of-Memphis-contract-for-public-health-informatics-and-workforce-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547029-a615e531577302541dddade7d92a4dc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439799&Signature=HdfvlGSi~JL9osdPYHKw7F-8d8JN5R6WcdbaLlywO1dCp1CZLFRVTQBcdRSoCh-KsH6jfgJIgiSiGO8WB6CuqhQlwZC554wTwJ9pV0kTtGFF-uk463UbtItYw7hrKsq5XnE8crRp04xF2VVjy5LbVDpoc4uwCs2ry-SbiD624~BLmLpJtIMkwjLeZjaX0CtFn-980tauUk22822rlxFQcnqzv4jf8ojmzdhst4Oqb6cplvTvJwSZFJlU5CZ7Fv3IGDZRz2D2Rg~eF-wMKAbzbY~yeMU7eYGxoUtKPw00XXtwevQ3ZDjQ2wOiGSulmDQQMQ18hE-3hvvCy353RarfLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a $1,043,560 contract with the University of Memphis, funded by federal grant dollars, to support data infrastructure, analytics and workforce development at the Shelby County Health Department.

The contract, approved unanimously by roll call (12 ayes), is part of a multi-year CDC-funded grant program the health department said it has used to build workforce capacity and data tools. Courtney Tipper, chief of staff for the Shelby County Health Department, told commissioners the University of Memphis subcontract covers three focus areas: public-health workforce development, recruitment and a data platform pilot. She said the U of M program has run a summer pipeline program for high-school students and helped staff pursue certificates, master's degrees and doctoral programs.

On data, Tipper said the county asked the university to adapt a public-facing platform modeled on an existing New York system that maps HIV status, resource locations and related service information. Tipper said the platform was in final development and that the health department's leadership planned to review a pilot next week before a broader public launch later in the year, with an ultimate goal of public access ahead of fiscal year 2026.

Commissioner Brittany Thornton pressed for details on the geographic reach of the student pipeline and asked whether employees at satellite clinics, including the Orange Mound clinic, had been included; Tipper said the workforce funding had been open to all county staff and agreed to provide commissioners the list of participating employees and the high schools represented in the student summer cohorts by the end of business Thursday.

The contract runs retroactively from Dec. 1, 2024, through Nov. 30, 2025, and requires the appropriation and expenditure of federal grant funds in FY2025. The motion to approve was moved by Commissioner Ed Ford (moved item), seconded by Commissioner Erica Sugarman; the roll-call recorded 12 aye votes and the item passed.

Why it matters: County staff said the contract strengthens the health department's data systems and helps create a recruitment pipeline for public-health careers. Commissioners asked for roster details to confirm equitable geographic outreach from the student and staff training programs.

Ending: County staff promised follow-up documentation and a pilot demonstration to commissioner and committee members before wider public rollout.","Shelby County Commission approved a $1,043,560 federal grant contract with the University of Memphis to develop public-health informatics, data equity, analytics and workforce pipelines, county staff said the work includes a public-facing pilot and student pipeline programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6547033,"Shelby County commissioners, providers highlight recent mental-health investments and plans for a children's crisis center",0,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7&start=2572&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7/thumbnail_2572000.jpg","/articles/6547033/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Shelby-County-commissioners-providers-highlight-recent-mental-health-investments-and-plans-for-a-childrens-crisis-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547033-a73c864b747729011c5bda54c5e3cf98/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439799&Signature=IGVGt-ffenMwq8C9I5VSqdYeFIrKaiKpKH1X~420SoGBYD-T5Bry0jz6nTNDqgshNWCV2ShxxWuTiJnjOb7C0WibFXbPBMu3yNKz4dms60Zb8q6uUN3-EfvFAGN51uF8k2bfUtxVNiGoptOmw1wAECQvhxcFnLNW7RCbj1n-CO16DfRXXI8UyNDbDeFj3e8QxBh~fOOjU9jDfD8zryfHYPtvVoPElcu2gMXfj95MPYreCLOugTeJdZ8q-4xm298LkXUBFbZarHI8JRA8iWD2tagxGIKa-E0AlWGilC8TqmHYJHZGirI7FIglfVFuyiu~3EzSGf4sftEB9rgnZF9Tpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shelby County officials and mental-health providers used the County Commission meeting to describe recent investments in behavioral-health infrastructure, outline next steps for expanding services and encourage residents to use newly available crisis resources.

At the meeting, former county commissioner Mark Billingsley and representatives of Alliance Healthcare Services described the county's $1 million investment in a 24/7 adult crisis center that opened in Binghamton. Billingsley told commissioners that the county's $1 million contributed to a larger $36 million construction investment and said the center is operating and accepting clients. He said the administration, the city and other partners provided additional support for the project.

The Alliance Healthcare Services representative described programs that Alliance provides, including crisis intervention, therapy, substance-abuse treatment and supportive housing. Commissioners and speakers said Alliance has been a frequent county partner and credited the provider with helping individuals in crisis, including during COVID-19 testing and outreach.

Billingsley said a new children's crisis center is planned on the same Binghamton campus, with 15 beds for children ages roughly 4 to 17; he said the children's facility would reduce waits for pediatric behavioral-health placement and that organizers would return to committee to give the commission a fuller report. The exact funding sources and construction timeline for the children's center were described as under development; Billingsley said state support and other funding helped the adult center and that organizers were seeking similar partnerships for the children's program.

Commissioners pressed for more detail. Commissioner Brittany Thornton asked for data about workforce development tied to county grants and the county health department's partnerships with the University of Memphis; Courtney Tipper, Shelby County Health Department chief of staff, said the department's CDC-funded workforce-and-data grant has supported certificate and graduate training for health staff and a summer pipeline program for high-school students run by the University of Memphis. Tipper said the health department planned to present the University of Memphis' pilot public-facing data platform to the county's executive leadership the following week and to launch a public version before fiscal year 2026 if commissioners approve the contract before them.

Commissioners and speakers also said school-based mental-health services remain limited. Billingsley and commissioners noted there are 16 school-based mental-health liaisons in the county but that they and others say the system needs many more counselors; advocates urged state-level support to increase school-based positions funded by the state.

Why it matters: Commissioners and providers framed the developments as part of an effort to move people away from emergency rooms and jails toward therapeutic settings. County and nonprofit leaders urged the public to use crisis services and asked the commission to continue funding workforce development and children's services.

Ending: Commissioners asked the administration and county health department for follow-up briefings during upcoming committee meetings and said they expected more detailed financial and program timelines before approving additional county funding.","County leaders, nonprofit partners and providers described a recently opened adult crisis center, ongoing investments that helped fund it and plans for a 15-bed children's crisis center during public comment and a resolution recognizing National Mental Health Month.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6547021,"Votes at a glance: Key outcomes from the Shelby County Commission meeting",6517,2424000,8941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7&start=2424&end=8941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395580-26ba4c5f652190905bb0bcd43b195db7/thumbnail_2424000.jpg","/articles/6547021/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Key-outcomes-from-the-Shelby-County-Commission-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547021-f18b2c8c4902f350a476435024ebcc39/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439799&Signature=R07FSH8tkRaVjy8yKOM~scS9mUu93vRfMWLyfE1UkbaEQSPmmdrTm2693IbI3vtzTyGqBiPpir-zq-zr1YP3RbBfK59kQDUezCL3tNKxrJWS0pQiv9b-Ooh5sRpLHFgt14gPOZlYhsPuL82jcpctEy1EBNG-Or9HtFfXwSoIZY1mtqAjfdB7mCRee-hDmRqgjXv-nMRg-G2hxnF3fID1sTW2iwvHSZM4qJFb0tE4~PzRmGsCKvbpIM8LNNQHcx3eO9pUXVnGbSlhIuSIXYTK0zgOu8GENfsSqhOpevLvUinv5AI8m90YN~Z1CZlldFBEsS8Iu2NU3spN~sbLyupVFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Below are the main actions the Shelby County Board of Commissioners took during the meeting. Where the transcript recorded vote tallies, those counts are shown. Item titles are shortened for readability; complete agenda language is on the county website.

- Consent agenda (Items 5'7 except item 14): Motion to approve consent agenda minus item 14. Result: Passed (10 aye votes). The board approved numerous procurement and grant items included in the consent agenda; item 14 was pulled for discussion.

- Item 14: Resolution appropriating and expending federal grant funds of $1,043,560 and approving a contract with the University of Memphis for public-health informatics, data equity, analytics and workforce development (term 12/01/2024' 11/30/2025). Motion: Approve contract and appropriation. Result: Passed (12 ayes). See separate article for details.

- Item 39: Appointments to the Unified Personnel Policy Committee. Outcome: Withdrawn at sponsor request in committee (no vote).

- Item 40 (ordinance, second reading): Ordinance fixing the tax rate for Shelby County for tax year 2025 (rate left blank for second reading). Motion: Move ordinance forward. Result: Advanced to third reading (10 aye votes, 2 abstained).

- Item 41 (ordinance, second reading): Amend county code to revise groundwater board rate-making authority and update well and septic permit fees. Motion: Approve second reading. Result: Advanced to third reading (10 aye votes, 2 abstained).

- Item 42 (ordinance, third reading): Zoning change for property at 10827 US Highway 64 (Z2024-011CO) from Conservation Agriculture to CMU-3 to allow outdoor self-storage for RVs/boats. Motion: Approve. Result: Passed (10 aye votes, 1 abstain).

- Item 43 (ordinance; third reading pending): Establish Memphis-Shelby County Building Home Program (Tennessee Homestead Act implementation). Motion: Approve second reading and advance to third reading. Result: Advanced to third reading (13 aye votes).

- Item 44: Shelby County Government compensation policy for FY26. Motion: Referred back to committee for further deliberation (no final vote).

- Item 45: Resolution amending FY25 operating budget to appropriate $665,000 for poverty, education, health care and other nonprofit grants (amended). Motion: Approve. Result: Passed (9 ayes, 2 no, 2 abstain).

- Item 46: Resolution awarding $1,000,000 in FY25 general-fund support to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Motion: Suspend rules (required) and approve. Result: Suspension carried (10 aye, 2 no); resolution passed (9 aye, 3 no).

- Item 47: Resolution requesting monthly status updates from the Shelby County Health Department about air-quality monitoring in South Memphis. Motion: Approve. Result: Passed (9 aye, 1 no).

- Item 48: Contract renewal approval for Aramark Correctional Services LLC for jail food service for 07/01/2025' 06/30/2026 (amount not to exceed $6,108,554). Motion: Approve renewal before exercising first one-year renewal option. Result: Passed (11 aye votes).

- Item 49: Purchase of two emergency outdoor warning sirens for Emergency Management and Homeland Security (amount not to exceed $76,828). Motion: Approve. Result: Passed (11 aye votes).

- Item 50: Resolution reallocating $2,064,968.94 within the Sheriff's FY25 budget to purchase mobile laptops, AEDs and replace timekeeping; approve contracts/purchases with Thomas Consultants Inc., IntelliTime Systems Corp. and Cardiac Solutions LLC. Motion: Approve reallocation and contracts. Result: Passed (12 aye votes).

- Item 51: Approval of a US Department of Transportation pass-through grant (administered via state) for hazardous-materials training (total to the local LEPC not to exceed $37,600). Motion: Approve acceptance and appropriation. Result: Passed (13 aye votes).

Why it matters: The votes move forward multiple funding and procurement items that affect county operations, public safety and neighborhood programs. Several ordinances require additional readings or committee follow-up.

Ending: Commissioners directed follow-up briefings on several items, including data and workforce contracts, air-quality monitoring and sheriff-cost reallocations.","The Shelby County Board of Commissioners recorded votes on multiple ordinances, resolutions and contracts. This roundup lists each item, the motion summary, vote result and next procedural step where applicable.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and jail staff describe unsafe conditions at 201 Poplar; commissioners discuss hazard pay, new jail funding and oversight

Commission approves $1.04 million University of Memphis contract for public-health informatics and workforce development

Shelby County commissioners, providers highlight recent mental-health investments and plans for a children's crisis center

Votes at a glance: Key outcomes from the Shelby County Commission meeting