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Motion to halt DeKalb County jail construction on Smith Road fails for lack of second
Summary
A motion to pause planning and construction of a proposed jail on Smith Road until impact studies and a jail-committee review could be completed failed for lack of a second; commissioners discussed renovating existing court space and seeking outside assistance.
A motion to halt planning of a proposed DeKalb County jail on Smith Road until impact studies are completed and a jail committee reviews alternative sites failed for lack of a second.
Greg, identified by the chair as the motion's mover, urged the commission to "hold up on this jail until we get some impact studies done" and to convene a jail committee to "pick another spot on that property to get it out from these people's backyards," saying the current placement felt like "a slap in the face" to nearby homeowners.
The chair acknowledged "a motion by Greg" but declared the proposal failed because no commissioner seconded it. The meeting record in the provided transcript excerpt shows no formal roll-call vote after the failure to second.
A commissioner who declined to second the motion reiterated opposition to siting the jail on Smith Road and recommended considering renovations to existing facilities instead of building a new, larger jail. "We don't need a 180-some-odd bed jail," the commissioner said, adding, "If you build it, they will fill it," and citing remarks attributed to Jim Hart that making changes to court-related space could reduce the number of inmates held in the facility.
The discussion also touched on operational fixes intended to free court space and avoid interruptions: moving the election office out of courthouse space and installing a new heating and air unit were cited as steps that would prevent courts from shutting down during elections and make more room for court business.
With the motion defeated for lack of a second, one commissioner said they "are going to seek outside this county for help" on the siting issue. The transcript excerpt includes no subsequent formal action, vote, or timeline for further study.
Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: the speaker characterized the proposed jail as approximately "180-some-odd" beds, cited "Smith Road" as the proposed site, and referenced Jim Hart's comment that changes to court operations could reduce inmate counts. The transcript contains the phrase "Cab County's business," which was read in the meeting; the commission referenced throughout the discussion is DeKalb County.
