The DeKalb County Commission approved a capital outlay note for the new county jail Monday night following a failed attempt to remove the item from the agenda.
Commissioner Greg Matthews led the effort to delay the vote, arguing that the body had received insufficient information regarding the project’s scope and impact on the surrounding neighborhood. He contended that the commission was being asked to approve millions of dollars in funding without adequate studies or public input regarding the specific site location.
“I’d like to make a motion that we remove the jail off the agenda tonight,” Matthews said. “Reason being is most of us, 99 percent of us didn’t know that they were going to be here Thursday. We never got to go in any details, any works, no jail committees no nothing – for any input on what they brought us for us to approve tonight.”
The motion to remove the item failed with only four commissioners voting in favor while ten voted against the delay. Following the approval of the agenda, the commission proceeded to vote on the capital outlay note itself, which passed by the same ten-to-four margin.
“We never got to go in any details, any works, no jail committees, no nothing for any input on what they brought us for us to approve tonight,” Matthews said. “I asked around some of these people, they never even seen what we were showed Thursday night.”
Several citizens addressed the commission prior to the vote, raising concerns about infrastructure capabilities, traffic safety, and the proximity of the proposed facility to residential homes. Residents specifically questioned whether the current water and sewer systems could handle the increased capacity required by the new facility.
“If the jail is built near us, I will no longer have the peace of mind of living on a quiet safe street,” resident Christy Longmire said. “What will happen when an inmate is released?”
The approval allows the county to move forward with funding for the project despite the objections regarding the Smith Road location. In addition to the jail discussion, the commission also handled routine budget amendments and discussed a resolution regarding data centers.
“I’m not going to tell you how to vote on an issue, but look at your soul, look at the people you’re representing, and have a little confidence that these people know something, you know,” resident David W. Davis said.