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Commission refers broad RFP on rebuilding or relocating Walter L. Bailey jail after tense debate
Summary
The Shelby County Commission voted to send a broadened resolution authorizing an RFP for a master plan to rebuild or relocate the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center to committee on Sept. 17 after heated discussion about sites, community input and process. Clerks warned of intake overcrowding and federal policy risks if bail rules change.
The Shelby County Commission on Aug. 25 referred — for further committee work on Sept. 17 — a resolution authorizing an RFP to develop a master plan to rebuild or relocate the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center.
The measure grew through amendments during the meeting: commissioners expanded the possible sites from “county‑owned properties” to any suitable location in Shelby County and broadened the caption to allow either a rebuild or a relocation. Tammy Sawyer, General Sessions court clerk, told the commission the intake area was already strained: “Today, there are a 191 people in intake,” she said, warning that the room fits only 60–80 people and that average waits can last 12 hours to four days.
The discussion centered on two competing priorities: the need for an empirical, expert‑driven master plan and strong community engagement vs. concern that available attachments and prior documents unduly favored one site (New Chicago/Firestone). Vice Chair Shontay Avant urged a wide search for possible locations, proposing that an amendment allow assessment of “alternate locations in Shelby County,” not only county‑owned land. Commissioner Thornton said residents in New Chicago had asked not to be considered and moved to exclude the Firestone site; that motion failed after objection but highlighted a deep neighborhood resistance.
Several commissioners sought clearer process safeguards before an RFP is released: calls included convening an ad‑hoc stakeholder group (clerks, judicial staff, public‑safety officials, community advocates), incorporating CTAS study findings, and making the RFP contingent on defined scope and funding commitments. Commissioner Ford said the amendment package should preserve an option to fund the RFP without narrowing site selection: the motion that carried allows for multiple funding sources but requires future board approval of specific expenditures.
Chairwoman‑elect Avant committed to appointing an ad‑hoc to shape the RFP scope and stakeholder input. The commission passed the motion to refer the amended item to committee on Sept. 17 by recorded vote (8 ayes, 1 no). The referral preserves continued work on the question while allowing additional hearings and expert briefings to inform eventual site selection and funding discussions.
