County Commission - Regular Meeting

Just to the listening audience and to our commissioners, we're waiting on the deputy sheriff to come so that we can officially call our meeting to order. And commissioner mill said I could blame him for it.

Yes. I would like to withdraw my name from consideration, please.

Thank you. Again, this is just for acting chair, just for us to get the business started. We will have a vote for the chairmanship, but thank you, Commissioner Billingsley, the effort of time and efficiency. Second round.

I thank you. We will move on to ask for the invocation. Reverend Melvin Watkins, Jr., who is senior pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

Before you seat, Commissioner Hewitt Garcia, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? You may be seated. Commissioner O'Dell, could you make a presentation for our pastor, our chaplain of the day?

Y'all know I'm short, so I have to bring this down a little bit. For those of you in the audience, Reverend Melvin D. Watkins, Jr., the senior pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, is our official chaplain of the day. May I preach now? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Absolutely. Pastor, thank you so much for praying for us. In the name of Jesus, all-powerful name of Jesus, thank you.

Thank you, Pastor. Let us get through some of the meeting. We might ask you to come back up for your sermon. All right. We'll now ask, I'm asking for a motion for approval of the August 24th, 2026 minutes. Can we do that without objection? Okay, seeing none, so moved. We'll now move to the regular agenda. Palminterian. Palminterian, please read item two.

I have a motion by Commissioner Richardson, a second by Commissioner Sugarman. Commissioner Brooks, could I get a committee report?

This item was sent down without recommendation.

Madam Clerk, please prepare the screen for a vote. I'm clerk. Please report the vote.

I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Clay Bibbs. Commissioner Brooks, could I get a committee report?

This item will sit down with our recommendation.

This item is properly before us the information that the parliamentarian read in order for us to create the acting chair. She's going to repeat procedurally so that everyone is aware of how the vote will go. Thank you.

Commissioner Billingson, would you like to go? I think you were the first nomination.

Thank you. Colleagues, I respectfully ask for your vote to serve as chairman of your Shelby County Commission at a critical moment for our county. We have serious challenges and we need leadership that is willing to confront them honestly and bring this commission together around solutions. Our finance department demands immediate attention. We must restore fiscal responsibility and protect Shelby County's ability to make its own decisions. If we fail to act, we risk state intervention and decisions being made in Nashville instead of here. But our challenges go beyond the budget. Our trauma ce

Commissioner Brooks was the next nominee.

Thank you. What I'll do, so that I will not ramble on, have you set a time limit?

Two minutes, okay. So, some of you have received a letter from me, everyone should have, but let me just try and keep it within that two minutes by going, summarizing the letter I sent to each of you to let you know that The reason I'm running is I'm in this race is because I'm not seeking a title, but I have been here in this body for 12 years, eight years consecutively, and then four additional years started in 2022. However, I've also served in the state legislature 14 years, and what has really concerned me, concerned me deeply as a state legislator, former state legislator, and a county c

Commissioner Rudd. Thank you madam chair. I nominated myself because it is time that we have a new fresh set of eyes to lead this body of government, thank you.

Thank you. Being the last on the list nominees, I just want to respectfully ask for your vote in consideration this year. We all know that each of us bring passion expertise and a commitment for Shelby County to move forward. I respectfully ask for your vote because I've had the opportunity, not only, and it's a privilege as well, to sit in this seat, understand the challenges we face as a body, but more importantly, how we can come together to make those changes in this body on behalf of Shelby County and working as a new administration. There are challenges that I'm sure each of you saw in p

Okay, Parliamentarian, because this will be round two, please just reiterate who moves on to round two.

I'm sorry, just a moment. Commissioner Brooks?

Point of personal privilege. At this time, I'd like to make a statement, if I could, before my vote. Or do I need to? It's a point of personal privilege, but we can go ahead. I can make it at the end.

Okay. Sorry. So we'll go back to the vote mission bills.

Commissioner Rudd. There's only three names because of. Brooks.

So at this time that would be commissioner Billingsley and commissioner event.

I do want to thank commissioner Billingsley commissioner Brooks and commissioner road for offer themselves up for leadership. As I mentioned in my speech, my hope is that we are now moving forward together as 1 body. All right, we will now move to item. Or.

Okay. I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman and a second by Commissioner Clay Bibbs. So we will, the voting is the same as it was before. Would any commissioners like the parliamentarian to read the rule? Okay. Everyone understood? Okay. It's the same process as before. Commissioner Brooks, can we get a committee report?

This item was sent down without recommendation.

Okay. We'll begin with District 3. District 3, yes. We'll begin with District 3.

I had to go back to my old microphone because since Caswell and I had to switch places, he broke his. No new nominations.

Madam Clerk has reminded us if there is an opportunity of Commissioner Billingsley and or Commissioner Brooks would like to make a speech for the Vice Chair. Commissioner Billingsley.

Thank you, Madam Chairman, and congratulations on your election. Thank you. I am a former Shelby County Commissioner. I served in this role for nine years. I'm known to be incredibly fair. I'm known to be fairly nonpartisan, even though I'm a Republican. And I would be honored to serve as vice chair. I will support the chairwoman to the very best of my ability. We have very serious issues in Nashville and here locally. And I think Commissioner Avant and I would do an incredible job bringing this team together. So I thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. Let me just say, first of all, congratulations to Commissioner Event on her reelection. Let me say to this body that I am very happy to have an opportunity to participate in the leadership of this body. Having served as a public policy maker and a statesperson for so many years, I look forward to sharing information, sharing experience, and being a resource. I'm looking forward, in addition to that, serving as a backup, if you will, for the chair, continuing some of the projects that are deeply, deeply important to me as a commissioner and Shelby County, and District 7. The rebuild

Congratulations, Commissioner Brooks. All right, we will now share, is there any general public comments? We have a couple of general public comment cards. I do want to just share that there are two ways to join the meeting via the designated email, boc.email at ShelbyCountyTN.gov, via phone at 901-222-1234. Parliamentarian, please read the rule.

We have two public comment cards for general comments. The first being Lucci Chambliss. You could come to the podium, state your name and zip code. You have three minutes.

Christine Fox. Could state your name and zip code for the record. You'll have three minutes.

Thank you. All right, commissioners at this time, we will take. Oh, yes, I'm sorry. You could read item 5.

Chair Avant, Commissioners, members of our audience, the most important people here. When you walked in on this side of the building, when you walked up the stairs, You saw a table, it's called the missing man table, and we'll talk about that a little bit later. So, whereas it is appropriate for this esteemed Board of Commissioners to honor and recognize distinguished individuals whose tireless efforts and wavering dedication has made a significant and lasting impact on the lives of other Shelby County, Tennessee residents. The United States has fought in numerous wars and conflicts throughout

Now therefore, being resolved by the body of County Commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee, hereby recognize the third Friday of September as POW MIA Recognition Day in Shelby County, Tennessee, and encourages all residents to honor the gallant men and women who have served our nation as prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action or unaccounted for. Be it finally resolved that a copy of this resolution being presented as a token of deep respect, Gratitude and admiration to the men and women who have served our country and to the propitious promise that you are not forgotten. Si

So accepting this resolution is VFW Post Commander Eugene from the Millington VFW and he's going to tell you very briefly a little bit about our missing man table.

Good evening everyone. My name is KPL Eugene.

Commissioners at this time we're going to have three minutes added to the agenda to allow you to review the consent agenda. If there are any items that you would like to be pulled into the queue.

Okay. Parliamentarian seeing no other commissioners in queue, please read the agenda minus item six and 14.

Can I get a motion? Motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Richardson. Seeing no commissioners in the queue, please prepare the screen for a vote. Madam clerk, please report the vote.

Sorry, Commissioner Hewitt-Garcia, are you aye?

That motion passes. Commentarian, please read item six.

Is there a motion? I have a motion by Commissioner O'Dell, a second by Commissioner Dowell. Commissioner Brooks, this came down with a favorable recommendation. And Commissioner, Vice Chair Brooks, you're recognized.

Thank you. I'm not in opposition to this item. However, I did have some questions regarding community benefits. And I think the presenter said that assured me that someone would be here from Regents Bank to expand a little bit more on the community benefits. I know that we've been depositing billions of dollars in Regents Bank for a long time and we enjoyed that partnership. So I want to be able to go back to District 7 and I want Shelby County at large to know that we're getting a great tangible community benefit from Regent's Bank and how we can even expand that.

Thank you. My apologies, but I did not receive that response. So I'm not sure where it was sent, but if you could just maybe focus in on a couple of things in terms of services, maybe benefits to low-income communities, because I know you have banks there in those communities, but what other community benefits that you may receive? already have instituted or plan to institute in low-income communities such that we can see a tangible benefit.

Mr. Blakely, respectfully, I appreciate that, but where did you send your response?

Mr. Brooks, if you want to be recognized, could you please get back in queue?

You recognize? I'm back in here. Thank you. You're going over some of the benefits that we heard in committee, but there were some additional benefits, and I apologize. I don't have my notes, and I did not get the response. So where did you send it so that I might go and retrieve it?

Trustee, did you get it to us? Where did you send it so that I can retrieve it?

Oh, you did? Yes, ma'am. All right. So in order to not to belabor time, let me just say that and reference to CRA the bar is real low and when it comes to affordable housing I think we have a lot of work to do so maybe we can talk offline because I think you know the matrix that they are using it's not a matrix that's going to bring up and fill in the gap of the 30,000 affordable housing gap but that's something I'm really interested in let's just talk offline about that okay glad to thank you so much all right madam clerk please prepare the screen for a vote

I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Hewitt Garcia. Commissioner Brooks, can I have a committee report? This item will sit down with the favorable recommendation. Commissioner Richardson, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have any opposition, just want to be added as a cosponsor.

I have a motion by Commissioner Richardson, a second by Commissioner Sugarman. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. Madam Clerk, please prepare the screen for vote. Madam clerk, please report the vote.

I do see Councilwoman Easter Thomas. I know that this is a lot of work that you'll be working with in collaboration and so very appreciative of the work that will happen as a result. We'll now move to the regular agenda. Commissioners, you guys will have your feel of what it means to get voting done as we have another vote before us. Paul and Terry, please read item 15.

This item was sent down without recommendation.

All right, I'd like to ask if we could get a motion to suspend the rules in order for us not to have speeches because we did that in committee. We've already satisfied that the need for us to hear from the candidates. If I could get a motion, a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Clay Bibbs to suspend the rules. We do that without objection. Seeing none so moved. All right, we will now start with district 4. If there, and this is based on the candidates who presented in committee, if there's a candidate that you would wish to provide as their name, please say so into the

Commissioner Hewitt-Garcia. I'd like to nominate Steve Townsend.

Commissioners, did everyone hear the five candidates before us? If you could repeat them once more for the record.

Okay, we have two, we have it, for this round, you have to have at least two votes, so there are three candidates that will move forward. Pollard, Ingram, and Cameron.

All right, because this round usually is the top two. There were not two that were leading. So we had five, four, four. So we'll go through this round again.

All right, we have two candidates that will move forward, Ingram and Pollard. Yup. All right, we need to suspend the rules in order for us to go to the next round. Is there a motion to suspend the rules? I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Richardson. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. The two candidates moving forward, Ingram and Pollard.

With the majority vote, Marcy Ingram. Ms. Ingram, if you'd like to make a few statements.

I have a motion. Can I get a motion motion by Commissioner Sugarman, the second by Commissioner Richardson. This committee this item came down with a favorable recommendation. Seeing no commissioners in queue, please prepare the screen for a vote. Madam Clerk, please report the vote.

That motion passes. Parliamentarian, please read item 17.

There's a motion by Commissioner Caswell, a second by Commissioner Sugarman. This came down with a favorable recommendation. Commissioner Sugarman, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd like to be added as a sponsor. I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Caswell. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. Commissioner Clay Bibbs.

Thank you madam chair, I like to be added as a sponsor.

I have a motion by commissioner clay bids a second by commissioner caswell can we do that without objection then non so moved. Please commissioner streeter. I'd like to be added as a sponsor second I have a motion by commissioner streeter second by commissioner sugar mink. We do that without objection seeing none so moved. Seeing no other commissioners in the commissioner. Commissioner Richard had me as well. Thank you. I have a motion by commissioner Richardson to be added as a sponsor a second by commissioner Sugarman. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none so moved. Going once going

That motion passes. Parliamentarian, please read item 18.

I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner O'Dell. Commissioner Sugarman, can I get a committee report? Yes, Madam Chair. It was favorable. All right, Commissioner Billingsley, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chairwoman Avant. Out of an abundance of caution, I'm going to recuse myself from this item. I raise funds for Alliance Healthcare Services. While I'm not an employee of Alliance Healthcare Services, I do support their organization. And in the future, they may be a future vendor with this related to Welford Health Services. So I'm going to be recusing today. Thank you.

I do have other commissioners in the queue. I'm going to go to the public comment cards and then allow commissioners to come back and speak. First public comment card is Josh Spickler. Please state your name and zip code for the record. You have three minutes.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Director. I know in committee the other day, I asked about the the people with with. With this summer, are they here with you today?

Okay. If they can just come up. And I just say, I know you all just heard the names of our neighbors and our family and friends that was just spoken of who died in that jail. And we know it's a tough task ahead. I know I had spent some time with the sheriff to talk about some of the deaths that happening at jail many of these people are sick before they even enter into our jail so making sure and I know I don't know if you all had opportunity to listen to all the questions that were asked and committed but I ask that y'all have a chance to go back and listen to to the to those questions that w

One more thing before my time go out is that, and appreciate you and your condolence, that it was said in the previous contract it was one per 1,400 residents at the jail, one therapist per 1,400. Do you know the ratio of how many therapists we have per?

Thank you. I'll start with my questions are coming from potential unexpected scenarios versus a suspicion that there may be a potential for a challenge here. This has my support. We need to get healthcare in our jails consistent. But I'm focused on, in the contract, the standards, requirements, and accreditation, and you were all just speaking to that. I keep hearing timely and in the contract, what is established, is 14 days the definition of timely? It's page six of the contract.

So I'm sorry. In the corrective action plan setting, what is a timely response? If somebody is issued a correct, if there's a corrective action plan issued for.

I think what I want to make sure is, excuse me, fees are not, there's $125 a day. So you're looking at about $3,000 a month for a corrective action plan being unaddressed. And if I'm looking at a contract that is, over a hundred thousand dollars a day are we building in a certain amount of room for non-compliance are we do we see any in in previous contracts or or prior experience that we have challenges with any corrective action plans are these fees enough I can't speak I think this is probably yeah for the administration yes

Yeah, I'm familiar with the exhibit E, where you've sketched it out. I think, will commissioners get an update monthly on any penalties that have been assessed? Will we get any sort of feedback ongoing? So yes, we can do that. Okay, thank you.

Commissioner Sugarman? Thank you so much, madam chair and so I just want to say that she went to court judge talk sugar is my brother. However, there is no conflict of interest so therefore be voting on this item, thank you.

Thank you. To our folks here from Wexford, as you know, we've got four separate facilities here. We've got the 201 Poplar, that's 3,000 inmates fresh off the streets. We've got Juvenile Court, all of our adolescents. We've got Jail East, which is our female inmates who are fresh off the streets. And then you've got the Corrections Center for more seasoned inmates. I hope you all have preparations to handle that very specific and different groups that you're going to be facing in all four of these facilities. And also I would recommend, I know you're going to be retaining a lot of the well path

Thank you, Madam Chair. I did ask this question committee. We do know that there is a difference in cost versus the last contract. And with the understanding that, of course, things like cost of living, inflation, all of the things happen. But I wanted to know with this particular contract, what are we getting different? That should be addressing some of the issues that you know that we've heard for the past year or so regarding the previous contract.

Thank you for that. I think that's important because I also want the listening public and our constituents to understand the difference between these two contracts and with the hope as you are, you know, you have been with us pretty much every commission meeting where you hear people come and advocate regarding loved ones and their family, friends, and our community members that have passed on. So I would like to believe that this is an opportunity for us to show them something different. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Director, since we are having to move so quickly on this decision, I have one ask of you is that after the first 30 days, you could come back to the commission with a written report indicating how things are going in general so that we can understand and jump on top of any issues that may come up immediately.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for answering the question on the ratio. I just assumed that every facility had that, but I do understand. And so thank you for that information. But that being said, what are we going to do really to be intentional? I mean, like super intentional. I think everybody comes in with a great mindset and a great motive to do the right thing and to make sure that people are being taken care of properly. But what will you do that's different from the rest that will just give us that sense of hope that we're actually doing the right thing and protecting our citize

If you could, anytime you're speaking, because we have to have recording, if you could just say your name for the record.

You're welcome. All right, Commissioner, I'm going to go to Commissioner Brooks, who hasn't spoke yet.

Thank you. Real quick, Director Alexander, I want to commend you on setting up your compliance committee. I'm just, I think compliance, tracking compliance and ensuring compliance is very important. But what I need to know, where will these compliance reports go? I mean, do you send them to a particular committee, the Sheriff's Department, or you just stick them in the system? What's that process?

Okay, so what we need to get in order for us to be informed since we're making this decision about these hundreds of thousands of dollars, well, I need to know that I may pass a great vote. So I need to make sure that they're in compliance with all of these components. and one that I'm really focusing in on is this youth mental health, because I went to a summit, I had a number of children, two or three hundred children were there, and they were talking about they need to be heard, they're not being heard, they don't have a place to go and talk. So I know you have your complement of children w

Okay, okay, so that will cover all of the areas that your new vendor here will be performing services for. That's correct. Okay, thank you. One more thing, one more thing. Okay, let's see. Well, I just wanted to say, just give you a kudo. Someone said something about the compliance team being unique. I just wanted to say that Director Alexander is unique.

Commissioner Odell, and I'll come back to you, Commissioner.

First, I'd like to thank both parties for coming together on this short, short time frame to take care of our inmates and our community. So thank you both for that. Second, a lot of times this body is the last one to know if there's issues going on. Please do not hesitate either side. both parties. Let us know anything that we can do to help solve any problems. I assure you this body is ready to help. And last, I would like to be added as a sponsor.

I have a motion by Commissioner Odell, a second by Commissioner Sugarman. Can I do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. Commissioner Rudd.

Thank you chairwoman. I want to say that certainly I know what it's like to lose a loved one due to the correctional system. And I am here to support you guys. I would like to be added as a sponsor.

I have a motion by Commissioner Rudd, a second by Commissioner Sugarman. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. Commissioner Huey Garcia.

Thank you. What is the current number of open positions on the base hiring plan that we represented? How many do you have left to fill?

Is about 10 that are vacant so about 10 vacancies I heard currently 201 201 is about 30. Yes and then 10 at the that's my understanding okay is there is there a position common among all that is most common I'm sorry I'm not sure of that what what is it you know okay oh maybe miss Palmer

Okay I think it's for the listening public if you're an LPN and you are looking for a job we have one for you absolutely thank you very much seeing no other commissioners in the queue please prepare the screen for a vote

Thank you. All right. We now move to the portion of our meeting. If there are any announcements and or statements, Announcements or statements, you can get into the queue. I think one of the best announcements, it's 5.13, our first meeting. Good job, commissioners. Good job, good job. I'll now go into the queue. Commissioner Sugarman.

Thank you. And so first, I just want to say congratulations to Chair Avent and Vice Chair Brooks. Look forward to working with you. And we have a town hall meeting. It's going to be the 17th at 7 p.m. at Cableville United Methodist Church, and that's on Riverdale. And so I just want to also extend the invitation to individuals and H. O. A. S. Etc. This is your opportunity to talk about the rezoning to talk with the sheriff's department roads as well as the sheriff's department. Again, this is going to be the 17th at seven p.m. And I look forward to hearing your ideas, concerns and issues. Than

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to say I'm super excited having completed the first committee meeting and commission meeting with you guys. I've sat in the audience for years waiting for this opportunity. And it's pretty cool. And I'm also thankful that tonight is Monday Night Football and my Chiefs are playing. And I was worried if I was going to be able to get home and watch it. And so I will. And we will watch the greatest football team play the ball tonight. All right. Thank you.

I don't have any comment as I am a Cowboys fan and so that was a disappointing loss. Yeah, very disappointing loss last night. I just want to again thank each of you for your vote of confidence. I am very grateful and honored to serve with this new body. I appreciate that each of us are now making a commitment to move forward as one body to do the work of this county. Seeing no other commissioners in the queue, this meeting is adjourned until Monday, September 28th at 3.