Fulton County ends agreement; Alpharetta plans to reopen municipal jail and seek interjurisdictional use

The mayor updated council Wednesday that Fulton County will end its agreement to operate the Alpharetta municipal jail effective Sept. 1 and that the city is preparing to reopen and operate the facility. Staff said the county’s decision is driven largely by staffing and compliance pressures at the Rice Street jail. The mayor said reopening Alpharetta’s jail will require staffing and budget adjustments and that the city is aiming for a Nov. 1 reopening date, which officials described as ambitious but possible. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom and public-safety staff have been meeting with neighboring municipalities to discuss regional needs and possible shared use; staff will present budget and staffing plans in coming weeks. The mayor said opening the municipal jail could require hiring certified jailers and other operational staff and that staff are evaluating timelines and costs. The mayor urged residents to be aware that, after Sept. 1, arrests and bookings in Alpharetta will be processed at Rice Street unless city and partner agreements are in place. City staff said they will report back on staffing plans, estimated operating costs and potential intergovernmental agreements to accept detainees from neighboring jurisdictions.