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DeKalb County approves up to $35 million jail capital outlay note amid public concern
Summary
DeKalb County commissioners voted 10-4 to authorize up to $35 million in short-term borrowing for a new jail, after public commenters raised safety and siting concerns and an earlier motion to remove the resolution from the agenda failed.
DeKalb County commissioners voted on Feb. 24 to authorize issuance of a not-to-exceed $35,000,000 Jail Capital Outlay Note, approving Resolution 2026-02-143 on a 10-4 roll call.
The vote followed public comments during the meeting in which multiple residents — including Matthew Collier, Paul Miranda, Jodie Miranda and Kristie Longmire — raised concerns about the proposed jail’s site, the planned size of the facility and safety at the location. Those comments were also echoed by several district residents who identified themselves by district (including Jerry Adcock and David Davis).
The resolution survived a procedural challenge earlier in the meeting: a motion by Greg Matthews to remove Resolution 2026-02-143 from the agenda was voted down (4 yes, 10 no) before the commission later approved the resolution.
On the final roll call approving the note, commissioners recording yes votes were Jeff Barnes, Sabrina Farler, Brandon Donnell, Glynn Merriman, Andy Pack, Daniel Cripps, Tom Chandler, Jack Barton, Larry Green and Mathias Anderson. Commissioners who voted no were Beth Pafford, Myron Rhody, Tony Culwell and Greg Matthews.
No public official at the meeting provided a detailed financing plan in the record beyond the resolution language authorizing issuance of the note; the transcript does not include an exchange that resolves the concerns raised during public comment about site safety or the facility’s size. The commission did not indicate a construction timeline in the recorded proceedings.
The next procedural step as recorded in the meeting minutes is simply the adoption of the resolution; the transcript does not state when bond documents will be issued or when a contractor selection process, if required, will take place.
