Commissioners debate repurposing jail shower funds as repairs remain delayed

Public commenters and commissioners pressed Shelby County leadership over plans to reallocate funds designated for shower renovations at the 201 Poplar jail. Two items on the agenda proposed shifting capital improvement funds: one would move $350,000 to emergency generators while another would reallocate $1,775,000 originally budgeted for shower renovations to a firearms training unit berm reclamation project.

Community advocate Glenda Hicks told the commission she has tracked the issue since 2017 and highlighted what she described as “serious issues” at 201 Poplar, including only a few working showers. Andrea Bell, who said she recently visited 201 Poplar, warned of potential asbestos exposure and legal liability if repairs are delayed. “If you're showering every day in a possible asbestos contaminant, we are saying that we are negligent,” Bell said.

Alicia Lindsey, chief administrative officer for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, said the showers are operational but leaking and that the department has struggled to secure an architect to design a full renovation; she said the current estimate for the full renovation is $1.775 million and that the department now has authority to engage a new architect to move the design forward. Commissioners emphasized the need for timetables and public documentation; Commissioner Brittany Thornton moved to refer the CIP reallocations to the Budget & Finance committee so staff could provide additional detail and timing. The motion passed and staff said they would provide updated documentation to the committee.