Graham County commissioners consider temporary closure of jail for lead abatement, staff safety

The Graham County Board of Commissioners on July 18 met in an emergency session to consider whether the Graham County Detention Facility should close temporarily to allow remediation after a report identified lead concentrated near steel vaults and staff raised long-running safety concerns.

The board, chaired by Meggan Smith, discussed options including phased repairs that would begin in the jail intake and booking area, temporary relocation of staff to magistrate offices or sheriff’s department spaces, and the operational impacts if parts of the facility must be vacated during abatement.

“Carolina Abatement included this area in their quote,” PM Marino said, referring to the report’s finding that lead was located at the steel vaults. Marino told the board the work could be phased and estimated two to three days for lead and chemical abatement and another two to three days for painting, for a maximum of five to seven days, but said employees could not occupy areas undergoing active abatement.

Vice-Chair Lynn Cody said that if the jail were closed it “will not be able to reopen until it is brought up to the new standards.” Chief Deputy Cody George told the board he could not answer definitively whether the facility was presently safe and said the Sheriff had not provided a clear opinion. Attorney J.K. Coward told commissioners they should record that they had attempted to discuss remediation with the Sheriff and that the Sheriff had declined or refused to act on the matter.

Commissioners discussed logistics for keeping the jail operational while work proceeds in phases, including taping off affected rooms and using magistrate offices temporarily. Chair Meggan Smith asked PM Marino to inspect the jail and provide a total cost estimate at the board’s August meeting. Marino said the initial work would focus on the booking area where windowsills and doors are worst and that the quoted abatement covered the steel-vault area.

The board also addressed an allegation of black mold raised in the meeting. Chief Deputy George said he had not been made aware of black mold; Commissioner Jacob Nelms said the health department had not conducted an investigation. Commissioners noted staff have reported “twelve to fourteen years” of frustration with facility conditions and identified Administration Assistant Dusti Cox and Chief Jailor Kenneth Hyde as staff with direct operational knowledge.

Discussion included potential personnel impacts if parts of the jail must be closed. Chief Deputy George said some staff would need to be temporarily laid off if inmates had to be moved and the facility closed for repairs; the meeting did not specify the number of layoffs or their duration. Marino said he would minimize hazard areas and begin with the booking area to limit disruption.

Procedural actions at the meeting included unanimous votes to approve the emergency agenda, to enter a closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(1) and (3) for privileged attorney-client matters, to reopen the meeting and to adjourn. No formal vote to close the jail permanently or to relocate inmates took place; the board gave direction to inspect the facility, seek the Sheriff’s assessment, and return with cost information.

The board directed staff and PM Marino to inspect the detention facility on-site and to report back at the regular August meeting with cost estimates and more specific remediation plans. Chair Smith emphasized the board’s priority was the safety of both employees and inmates while working within limited county resources.

Actions taken: the board approved the emergency agenda (motion by Commissioner Natasha Williams, seconded by Commissioner Connie Orr; unanimous); voted to enter closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(1) and (3) (motion by Commissioner Connie Orr, seconded by Commissioner Natasha Williams; unanimous); voted to reopen (motion by Commissioner Natasha Williams, seconded by Commissioner Connie Orr; unanimous); and voted to adjourn (motion by Commissioner Natasha Williams, seconded by Commissioner Connie Orr; unanimous).

The county will not finalize any closure or relocation without further input from Sheriff Hoxit and a detailed cost estimate from PM Marino, which Marino said he would deliver by the board’s August meeting.