County Commission - Regular Meeting

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Good morning, everyone. We will call our first committee meeting to order for today, August 5th. Committee number two, Public Works. Madam Parliamentarian, would you please read item number one?

Good morning. Item 1 is an ordinance first reading. Ordinance approving intergovernmental agreements between Shelby County Government and the Town of Arlington, the City of Bartlett, the Town of Collierville, the City of Germantown, the City of Lakeland, the City of Memphis, and the City of Millington to establish cooperation and coordination for the provision of annual funding for the operation of a permanent household hazardous waste facility located in Shelby County. Sponsored by Commissioner David C. Bradford, Jr.

Thank you. This item has been moved by Commissioner Wright and seconded by myself. Mr. Sanders, name and title.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Darren Sanders, county engineer. To my left is Mr. Jose Houston. He's our solid waste coordinator. And what this item is, this is a first reading for an ordinance so we can continue cost sharing the household hazardous waste facility with the suburban municipalities in the city of Memphis. We charge the suburban municipalities 25 cents per resident per year and then Shelby County and the City of Memphis have a flat rate of 50,000 each that we participate. The facility is located at Shelby Farms. It opened up in 2007. We accept Three days a week, so Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and we accept motor fluids such as oils and antifreeze, home products such as cooking oils and propane tanks and herbicides, and it's free to the residents. So that's why we have this funding agreement so we can provide the service for free for the people who come to the facility and be happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

Okay. I see no questions. Let's bring this item to a vote, please.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Mills, Wright. We have two aye votes.

Thank you. That item will come to us Monday with a favorable recommendation. Madam Parliamentarian, would you please read item number two?

Item 2 is a resolution approving the issuance of a purchase order to Nashville Automotive LLC in an amount not to exceed $925,672 for the procurement of replacement vehicles for various county departments. This item requires the appropriation and expenditure of FY2027 Fleet Services Vehicle Replacement Funds in an amount not to exceed $925,672, sponsored by Commissioner David C. Bradford, Jr.

This item has been moved by Commissioner Wright, seconded by myself.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Darren Sanders, County Engineer. So this item is part of the county's replacement program. Divisions and departments can opt to pay into the program. It's $28.50 per vehicle per year. And after 15 years or 150,000 miles, those vehicles are eligible for replacement. And that's what this resolution does is it approves 22 new vehicles. About half those are going to code enforcement and then some to the health department as well as support services. We do have five all-electric vehicles as part of this purchase. And just to kind of give a quick update on where the Green Fleet is, the Green Fleet ordinance had a goal of reaching 5% by the end of 2027 of converting our fleet to a greener fleet, and that's the mayor's administration. And we're currently at 4.3%. With this purchase, we'll be up to 4.8%, and we're going to have another purchase prior to the end of next year, so we're on pace to exceed the 5% goal. And we received one bid for this, which came from Nashville Automotive. We recommend approval. Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no commissioners in the queue, let's bring this item to a vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Mills, Shalai, Wright. We have three aye votes.

That item will come to us Monday with a favorable recommendation. Madam Parliamentarian, would you please read item number three?

Item three is a resolution approving a piggyback contract with Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. utilizing the State of Tennessee contract number 88039 for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste in an amount not to exceed $175,000 annually beginning upon execution and continuing through November 17, 2030. This item requires the expenditure of FY2027 household hazardous waste funds in an amount not to exceed $175,000, sponsored by Commissioner David C. Bradford, Jr.

Thank you. That item has been moved by Commissioner Wright and seconded by myself, Mr. Sanders.

Good morning. Darren Sanders, County Engineer. Thanks, Madam Chair. And so this is kind of a companion item to item number one. This is to hire a company to pick up the household hazardous waste at our drop-off facility and dispose of it properly. The state of Tennessee actually bids this for all the counties. So there's five counties that have a permanent facility. that's included in this contract. But also, the other 90 counties, this gives them the option where they can have a special event drop-off. So it's a piggyback by definition, but actually the state pulls all the quantities together and bids it for the counties to help not only provide a company, but also help provide a better price. Thank you.

Wonderful. Seeing no commissioners in the queue, let's bring this item to a vote, please.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Caswell, Mills, Shalai, Wright. We have four aye votes.

Thank you. This item will come to us Monday with a favorable recommendation, and that will conclude Committee No. 2, Public Works. We have a few minutes. Our next committee, Land Use Planning, Transportation, and Codes, begins at 845. We will join you again then. Thank you. IT IS 8.45. LET'S CALL TO ORDER COMMITTEE NUMBER 5, LAND USE PLANNING TRANSPORTATION AND CODES. MADAM PARLIAMENTARIAN, PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE.

Item 1 is an ordinance second reading, joint ordinance to amend the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code adopted by the City of Memphis on August 10, 2010 and by Shelby County on August 9, 2010 to establish a procedure for replacing the zoning map being ZTA 2026-002 sponsored by Commissioner David C. Bradford, Jr.

Thank you. This item has been moved by Commissioner Wright and seconded by myself. If you all name and title, you have the floor.

Good morning. Thank you. Brett Ragsdale with the Division of Planning and Development. This is an item that we presented two weeks ago at committee and this is up for second reading. We're happy to give a presentation if you'd like or discuss.

I think we all remember from the first time. We're good. No commissioners in the queue. Let's bring this item to a vote, please. Oh, we have a card. Okay. Mr. Brittnam? Yes. Okay. Name and zip code, and you'll have three minutes.

Yes, Dedrick Brittnam. My address is 3385 Airways Boulevard. And we're here on this amendment. I'm here with Attorney Robert Spence, and we sent to you on Monday by electronic mail a proposed amendment to this particular amendment. What we'd like to do is to afford the property owner that experiences a down zoning when the map is adopted that they would have the right to appeal the down zoning. So that's the essence of what we sent to you by email. And by the way, we have been working with staff, Mr. Ragsdale, and But we just want to go ahead and bring that to your attention. We're in continuing talks with DPD, so we hope to be able to resolve all our issues. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm looking at you to respond, please, sir.

Yes, thank you. Brett Ragsdale, DPD. And yes, as Mr. Bricknell mentioned, we are working together, and so we did get this as well. So we've been talking with them about their proposed amendments, and we're going to continue to work with them. We may be able to get to a resolution to where this is not necessary, but I think they wanted to just make it a point that they brought it to your attention. And so we'll continue working with them and come back to you if there is any need for any further amendment.

That would be great to be handled on second reading so if there is one But even better if y'all can work it out without so good. All right Seeing no other commissioners in the queue. Let's bring this item to a vote, please

We have aye votes from Commissioners Mills, Shalai, Wright. We have three aye votes.

Thank you. This item will come to us Monday with a favorable recommendation, and that will conclude Committee No. 5, Land Use Planning, Transportation, and Codes. Thank you. And our next committee will begin in six minutes. Facilities, real property, and capital.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

All right.

All right, I have 855, which means we can open up Committee 15, Facilities, Real Property, and Capital Improvements. Madam Parliamentarian, would you read Item 1, please?

Item one is a resolution approving a contract and the issuance of an emergency purchase order between Shelby County Government and AccessDNSI Inc. in an amount not to exceed $366,623.26 for the emergency completion of low voltage and information technology construction services required to support election readiness at the Shelby County Election Commission Operations Center located at 980 Nixon, Memphis, Tennessee, This item requires the expenditure of FY2026 CIP funds appropriated in resolution adopted February 2nd, 2024, item 22, in an amount not to exceed $366,623.26, sponsored by Commissioner Mick Wright.

Thank you so much. This item has been moved by Commissioner Shillai. I have seconded the resolution. Mr. Wright, good morning. Give us your name and the floor is yours.

Anthony Wright, Shelby County Engineering. The election commission renovation project was designed over a long timeline to regard the schedule for the election operation center activities. There were blackout periods and then periods of accelerated work. So there was also an appropriation of funds for low voltage and special technology. And we monitored the progress of that expenditure and the progress of the work and out in abundance of caution with an approaching election, we requested an emergency justification to make sure the work was completed in time.

And when was this work completed?

Anthony Wright, Shelby County Engineering, by April the 15th.

Great. I have no one in the queue. So if that concludes your presentation. The department recommends approval. All right. Thank you so much. We'll go ahead and take this to a vote, please.

We have aye votes from Commissioner Shalai Wright. We have two aye votes.

Thank you. That item moves down with a favorable recommendation. And that, I believe, concludes Committee 15. We'll be on pause for about 13 minutes until our next committee. Okay. I have nine o'clock. I guess my clock was off earlier. I apologize. So I think we're good to start the next committee, which is committee number four, law enforcement corrections and courts. Can we read item one?

Item 1 is an ordinance, second reading. Ordinance to amend the Shelby County Code of Ordinances by amending Chapter 10, Article 7, Sections 10-373, Definitions and 10-388, Temporary Housing of Children, Creating Rules for Seclusion and Restorative Practices in the Youth Justice and Education Center. Sponsored by Commissioner Eric Sugarman, Commissioner Charlie A. Caswell, Jr., and Commissioner Henry E. Brooks. This item was amended in the July 27, 2026 Commission Meeting.

All right, thank you so much. This item has been moved by Commissioner Caswell and seconded by Commissioner Shirlai. Good morning.

Good morning. Dana Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Harris. I don't have much to add to the discussion around this. I just would like to remind the commission that this ordinance affects youth who are being detained in the Youth Justice and Education Center. Those young people are in pre-adjudication status, meaning that they haven't actually been determined whether they've committed a crime or not. And so this is really essential to making sure that there's continuity and support for these young people that are not yet adjudicated. And I also want to remind the commission that we have come to this place through lots of work with community advocates as well as working very closely with the Department of Corrections and the staff at the Youth Justice and Education Center. And we have the full support from all sides. So it's just the last thing I'd like to remind everyone. Thank you.

I don't have anyone in the queue, but I had a question you probably have addressed before. I thought we had already addressed the seclusion piece of this. Can you refresh my memory into how this, is this building off of that or did I get that wrong?

The previous ordinance that was brought in front of the commission was withdrawn and reworked in work by, through this process of working really closely with the Department of Corrections and community advocates to make sure that we had the full input of everyone. So this is actually, has new content that I think is more aligned to what both the community and Department of Corrections are looking for.

So that previous ordinance never passed?

It did not.

Okay. Okay. All right. I still have no one else in the queue. We can go ahead and take this to a vote, please. Commissioners, cast your votes. If everyone wishing to vote has done so, we can close the screen and report the tally.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Caswell, Shalai. We have two aye votes.

Thank you. That item will move down with a favorable recommendation. Item two, please.

Item two is a resolution to approve the purchase of four rapid DNA devices from Fisher Scientific Company, LLC, for countywide forensics initiative to expand law enforcement capacity for an amount not to exceed $700,000. Available in account number 10010-200304-7001. Sponsored by Commissioner McWright.

Thank you so much. This item needs a mover. This item has been moved by Commissioner Shirlai, seconded by Commissioner Caswell. Ms. Wilson again.

Thank you, Dana Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Harris. I just want to say good morning and thank you to Commissioner Wright for your continued support for the administration's efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement across the county to engage through our engagement with a consultant named David Jackson. Thanks to the work of David Jackson and Dr. Brown, who's here with me, we've made great progress and that is why Dr. Brown and I are here today with this resolution to purchase four rapid DNA instruments. To give everyone some context, these four devices are roughly the size of a desktop printer and they will be located strategically across the county to ensure 24 hour access to DNA evidence processing in just 90 minutes. These instruments will be accessible to a designated pool of trained investigators from all municipal police forces. Detectives will bring a sample to the machines and then they can return to the field. The machine itself will extract the DNA sequence, detect any matches, send the results via electronic communication. TBI is nearly ready to implement a statewide rapid DNA profile system. It will come out in September or October of this year and our samples here in Shelby County will automatically run through the TBI system of known arrestee profiles when that database appears. So Rapid DNA is quickly able to exclude suspects as well as positively identify a suspect who might be in connection to a case. What this will do is move cases along more quickly, both through the investigation process and through potential plea bargaining. Also, rapid DNA can be used to expose child trafficking through kinship capabilities in the rapid DNA instruments, thus exposing in just 90 minutes if a suspected trafficker who claims to be a family member is actually telling the truth. And finally, in addition, I want to share that these machines can be used in the event of a tragic mass casualty situation, allowing for the efficient identification of the remains of victims. So in totality, this is the most up-to-date DNA forensics tool that has been approved by the FBI just this past July. That approval is the gold standard for national and international DNA forensics. It is rapidly becoming the standard across the US and here in the state of Tennessee. This project, this investment in rapid DNA instruments will empower all of our law enforcement agencies to investigate and do their best work. This is something we should be very proud to implement. Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Chief Wilson. I had a question by Commissioner Caswell.

Commissioner Wright, you probably don't ask my question, but I appreciate the opportunity to go into Nashville with Commissioner Wright and others to look at some of the rapid DNA and the things that were happening in Nashville that would help this process. So I'm excited to see that this process is moving along, that we can be able to get cases solved a lot quicker here in Shelby County. So I'm looking forward to this happening. Can you tell me the timeline when we're expecting for this to come on?

With this approval and the process, we would like to get these machines purchased and in Shelby County by the end of August. And we are working towards the implementation plan with David Jackson to staff the implementation, where they're going to be. Everything is, all of that process is in the works. So I would say we could have this up and running by October at the latest And there's another component to this project, but I'm speaking specifically to rapid DNA today Thank You Commissioner Caswell I had a question about well

I came across some previous, because this was a year ago that we began, more than a year ago, that we began talking about some of these opportunities that we had as a county. And I came across a previous email message from, I believe it was the director of the TBI, who said that this was not, he believed that this was not duplicative of what TBI does. And so I meant to have that present, that email present to share with commissioners. But can you correct me if I'm wrong on that? Is that still the position of TBI that this is a new and not duplicative service?

Dana Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Harris. Absolutely, this is about aiding investigations here on the ground. It doesn't duplicate the work that TBI does, it complements the work that TBI does. And we are developing this project in a deep partnership with TBI. In fact, as TBI is bringing on a statewide rapid DNA program that will allow anyone who is kind of in the fold in this rapid DNA initiative across the state through a software called DNA Connect. Our rapid DNA samples will be able to be processed through the TBI database system and TBI has already agreed to make Shelby County one of the included partners in that. So we are being essentially given the DNA Connect license and connection as a part of that project, which is the project that I mentioned is coming online through TBI. So we are moving quickly to purchase these devices and get our situation set up so that when they come online, we move together. So this is absolutely complimentary. Thank you.

And I guess the second part of my question would be, and you've already mentioned that Mr. Jackson that's involved, and I know you have as well, Dr. Brown, have been involved in planning for how this is part of a, I guess, local strategy to augment and supplement what TBI provides to us. Can you go any further on where we are with that plan? Is that plan still being drafted or where does that stand?

Dana Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Harris. We are working on that plan right now. It's moving very quickly and the pieces are falling into place. So I think we are just ended the 90-day mark and we have extended the contract with David Jackson, which was a part of the plan to ensure that we are including all of the law enforcement agencies and that plan should be completed within, I would say, the next 60 to 90 days.

All right. I'll be watching. Thank you so much. If no one else is wishing to be recognized, let's go ahead and take this to a vote, please.

We have aye votes from Commissioner Shalai Wright-Caswell. We have three aye votes from Commissioner Shalai Wright-Caswell.

Thank you so much. That item will move down with a favorable recommendation. Can we read item three, please?

Item 3 is a resolution from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners allocating funding for and requesting the issuance of a study on the Justice Center Ad Hoc Committee Findings. This item requires the allocation of contingency fund in an amount not to exceed $350,000 sponsored by Vice Chair David C. Bradford, Jr. and Commissioner Mikael Lowry. This item does not meet requirements of the permanent rules. Once this item is properly before us, we would need to determine which rules are looking to be suspended so we can take up that motion. Thank you, sir.

Thank you so much. All right. This item has been moved by Commissioner Shillai, seconded by Commissioner Caswell. Let's take that. I don't know if our county attorney, can you speak to what, which permanent rule may be in question?

Jordan Galtelli, County Attorney's Office. It looks like this did not receive legal review, as there's not a reviewer name on the document.

And Finance was not able to approve it, so County Attorney's Office was not able to review it.

All right, so it sounds like we need to move to suspend the rules for both of those, for finance and legal. The item did not receive review from either. Do we need to get it on the table before we ask them that? Do we want to be advised? Okay. Well, yeah, that's it. The parliamentarian is saying we may want to get comment from finance and legal on why that is. So I would whoever would like to speak to that. Director Tipton.

Good morning, Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. This resolution was not approved by Finance because of the funding source. It is for contingency funds in the amount not to exceed $350,000, and we could not approve that.

All right, Commissioner. Well, can I go to Commissioner Caswell? You can go ahead and take the motion to suspend the rule.

I would say, knowing that this comes from Commission contingency funds and under the circumstances we're all aware of, this is now before us to take up $350,000 from the Commission contingency funds. And so a motion to suspend the rules so that you all can consider this item require two-thirds vote of those present and voting.

All right. So I will entertain at this time a motion to suspend the rule. There's a motion by Commissioner Shirlai, seconded by Commissioner Caswell. Can we do that without objection? All right, I hear no objection, so hearing none, so moved. So this is now properly before us. I recognize Commissioner Caswell.

Thank you, Chair, and I guess Director Tipton, I guess I was going to ask her about it, because is this coming to you, Chair, from the commission contingency fund, right?

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. That is my understanding.

And so I know that you all are saying that I know where we are right now with the finance and what have you. If it's coming from the commission contingent fund, could we not move forward since that budget has been approved now?

That is correct.

Okay. All right. That's it.

All right. I personally don't understand that. But that's nothing new. Commissioner Mills.

Well, that was my question. Where are we going with this? What is this? Since nobody seems to know and the sponsors aren't here and nobody to speak to it, I would move to send this down without recommendation.

All right, Commissioner. I do have Commissioner Sugarman. Can we hear from her first before we take up that motion? All right, Commissioner Sugarman.

Thank you so much. And so I've been listening in, and so my question then becomes, okay, what is the impact on our contingency fund? What's the balance left? There's no additional information, and we've got to be very wise on how we spend our funds, even if it's commission funding, because there's some questions about that as well. So I would like for the sponsor to be here, number one, and number two, I would like to know as far as impact that we expect from this and then also what is the balance in our contingency fund because the new commissioners may have some things that they want to look at as well. And so I think that we need to be very wise on how we spend the money. Our funds, because it's going to be a whole fiscal year, they're going to have to address a lot of issues. So I just raise caution. And right now I cannot support this out or send this down without recommendation. So I support that as well. So I will second it. Thank you.

All right. There's a motion on the floor to send this down without recommendation. I've had a second from Commissioner Sugarman. Before I do that, can I say just a brief comment before I gavel that, which is just that if It's concerning to me that this board is encountering resistance from the administration in doing the simple tasks of getting items on the agenda. And if this board is, if this board's powers are being infringed upon in that manner, that is improper in my view. That's my viewpoint. And so it shouldn't be a political or a policy. What this board does shouldn't be stopped by politics and by policy disagreements with appointed staff. So if something is not meeting the permanent rules one moment and now suddenly it is, I don't understand that. I have a hard time understanding why, how that could be, how both things could be true. And I say that with all due respect, because we've had a good relationship. But it doesn't compute for me why legal and finance are preventing this board from doing its work. With that said, we'll send this down with that recommendation. and that will conclude committee number four. All right, we'll call to order committee number... Without objection.

All right, so moved. Okay. Just, so call to order committee number one, budget and finance. The previous item is also one I think ought to potentially be considered in budget and finance, but one... And just to confirm this for Monday, because we did send it down with that recommendation, the actual approved budget of the contingency in FY27, because this was not, to my knowledge, this was not something we amended during the budget process, but the proposal was just over $500,000 total for the contingency fund. So if that's true, we just need to confirm that, because this would be pretty much two-thirds of it. Okay. All right, if we can read item number one.

Item one is a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2027 operating budget to expend grant funds in the amount of $72,876 from the State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs to serve domestic violence warrants and orders of protection. This item requires the appropriation and expenditure of fiscal year 2027 federal through state grant funds in the amount of $54,657 and expenditure of general fund matching funds in the amount of $18,219. Sponsored by Commissioner McWright.

All right. Thank you, Adam. One move by Commissioner Mills, second by Commissioner Shalai. All right. Good morning, Ms. O'Dell.

Good morning, Chair. morning commissioners this resolution accepts and appropriates a domestic violence grant from the tennessee office of criminal justice to continue one officer from the shelby county sheriff's office fugitive division to continue serving only domestic violent warrants in orders of protection. The resolution amends the FY27 operating budget and appropriates funds in the amount of $54,657 and requires a budget cash match of $18,219 from the Sheriff's Office budget. The grant period covers July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and acceptance of this grant does not create an ongoing general fund obligation. If the grant is discontinued, the Shelby County Sheriff's Fugitive Division will remain with the personnel, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office recommends approval.

Okay, thank you for the report. Any questions from commissioners on item 1? All right, seeing none, Madam Clerk, please prepare the screen to vote. Okay, we can close the screen and record the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Caswell, Whaley, Mills, Shalai, Wright. We have five aye votes.

Okay, thank you, item one. We'll go down with a favorable recommendation. Item number two.

Item 2 is a resolution to appropriate funds in the total amount of $22,950 from the fiscal year FY2027 Commission Contingency Funds to support security cameras, maintenance, and District 9, sponsored by Commissioner Matthew T. Shillai.

Okay. If we can get a move by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Commissioner Shillai. Commissioner Shillai. Thank you all.

You all may remember previously the Board of Commissioners approved $500,000 being used for security cameras within the District 9 area. What this is for is for the actual chips that will be used to bring those cameras online. The cost associated with making those cameras active and online was not in the initial resolution, and so this is just to afford to make the cameras active and usable for District 9. Okay.

Thank you, Commissioner Sugarman.

Thank you. And so I do support this. My question is, it's $22,950. And my understanding is that anything under $50,000 does not happen before the commission. And to my colleague's point, Questioning is, you know, it seems like we're being more scrutinized or because as far as what we're doing in the process, I'm just wondering why this was brought to the commission for a vote because it's under 50,000. So I'd just like somebody to answer that. Thank you. I see Tipton's coming to the podium.

Okay. All right. Director Tipton.

Thank you. Good morning. Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. As you all know, the contingency fund for the commission is your responsibility. We cannot approve a payment to take against that contingency fund for any any amount unless all of the commissioners agree to that because he brought that to me and said take it against the contingency fund for the commission. What if all of you didn't agree? So that's why it's being brought before you so you can discuss it and vote on whether or not to approve it.

And thank you for that explanation. And so with that, I do support this because, again, $500,000 was allocated in fiscal year 2026. And if this is what's needed, I would support this. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Commissioner Mills.

Thank you. I just have a question to the sponsor. Is the timeline on this, are the cameras already up? No. I'm just curious about the timeline and the answer to that will lead to my next question.

All right. All right, Commissioner Shalai. So no, the cameras are not currently up right now. So the cameras were ordered and are currently still being manufactured. And so this is expected, if passed, to be available for the cameras before they actually put up.

Okay. When do you think the cameras, when are they estimated to be in?

So there has been some manufacturing delays from the manufacturer. I expect that the cameras will be ready within the next month or two is my expectation and hope.

Okay. I was just wondering, because the last one was $350,000, this is $22,000. We're like blowing through contingency in one day. My only question I ask is because if it's close to November... Could CEP funds be used in November if the timing worked out for that? Would that be better? Just a thought to think about. That's it. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Commissioner Shalai, so help us understand why this wouldn't have been inclusive of the initial allocation. I would assume the initial allocation would have been inclusive of any hardware that would be needed to run it.

So the cost of the initial, well, the initial resolution was budgeted for 50 cameras with that 500,000 being for the cameras themselves. The cost breakdown based on the cost per camera and the amount allocated of 500,000 only covered the manufacturing and the installation of the cameras, nothing related to the actual chips being used yearly to be able to afford to bring them online.

Okay, okay. So I would make a motion to send this down without recommendation just because this is a use of the contingency fund and I don't think we've gotten clarity yet on the Like what I'm seeing is the amount's just over $500,000. It was not amended in the budget. So we just need to confirm that that's really the number and understand if we were to consider the item that came before this, where it leaves a contingency fund, that would be my motion. Second. All right. Seconded by Commissioner Wills. Any objection to doing that? Okay. All right. Item two will go down without recommendation. Item number three.

Item 3 is a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2027 operating budget to appropriate funding to the Shelby County Drug Court in the amount of $500,000 from the Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund subject to availability of funds. Sponsored by Commissioner Matthew T. Shillai.

All right. Item 3 is moved by Commissioner Shillai. Seconded by Commissioner Wright. All right. Good morning, Judge. Just check your microphone again there.

Judge Lee Wilson, General Sessions Court Division 8 of the Sheppard County Drug Court, 201 Poplar. Good morning. I'm here this morning, of course, asking for funding for our drug court program. We are in a situation right now Well, Sheppard County is currently the largest drug court in our state. Approximately 40% of the participants in our program are opioid cases or present as being opioid users.

Over the last year, we

have exhausted most of our funds for inpatient treatment. And I think it's important to note that those who are addicted to opioids and more of those are fentanyl users. Fentanyl is more addictive and more lethal than any of the other drugs which we have here in Shelby County. And since they are more lethal and more addictive, they require more treatment. about 95%, I would say, of our opioid users coming to the program as inpatient clients, which means that they will be inpatient for 28 to 45 days. After that 45-day period, because of the addiction, most of them will be sent to structured living. That structured living... is anywhere from six months to a year. And as you realize that that can be very expensive. Tennessee has the opioid fund for the treatment of opioid users. I can't think of any other reason or a better use of those funds. AS I INDICATED, THAT OUR PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST IN THE STATE, AND AT ONE POINT WE HAD 168 ACTUAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE EVALUATED, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ASSESSED, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE PROGRAM. MS. PARKERSON IS HERE WITH ME. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GRAPHS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PUT UP FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMISSION.

All right. Thank you. I think we've got it. I think we've got that exhibit. You're talking about the exhibit. I think we've got that in our system, in the document. But, sure, if you'd like to give an overview of that.

I can give a brief overview. Angela Parkerson, Administrator for Shelby County Drug Court. Um, so the stats on the attached document are from 2022 through 2025. So judge Wilson came on the bench, the beginning of fiscal year, 2022, or came on the bench in September of 2022. So since that time, 825 individuals were referred to the program. 536 were identified as high risk kind needs, um, and having a substance use disorder. So you see that of those, 76% were male, 24% were female. The demographics have changed since Judge Wilson has been on the bench. The first two years, it was 46% identified as black, 47% white, 7% others. The past two fiscal years, that number is 61% black, 32% white. and 6% others, so that mirrors the demographics of Shelby County. Judge Wilson talked about the drug of choice and you see that 37% of these individuals identify their drug of choice as opiates, but we find that 60% of those individuals will test positive for an opioid once they're admitted to the program. Are there any questions about any of the data on this exhibit?

All right, thank you so much. Before I go to the screen, is there, Judge, is there, I mean, we're going to need some kind of a budget or exhibit here. I don't see the budget of how the funds are going to be spent, so that's going to have to happen at some point here to consider this. Do you want to address that first, and then we'll go to the questions on the item?

All of the funding is for treatment, so it would all be in account 6632 for professional fees.

Okay. Is that within the resolution?

It is not, I don't believe. We would have to create a fund number first and then we can put it in the resolution.

Okay. All right. Commissioner Sugarman?

Thank you so much. And so, again, with the data that's requested as far as what's the number of individuals that will be supported by $500,000 and projected outcome, I do support this because this is what the open fund is used for. The next question then would be as far as sustainability because, you know, the opioid funds is coming in, dribbling in. How long would this sustain you all? And then are there other grants out there that maybe we can support you all in getting?

Angela Parkerson, Administrator for Shelby County Drug Court. We do actively seek... Other grants as well, we currently have an application for the state opioid abatement council funding that we should hear back next month. We also have a federal grant application that's in it as well. So we are constantly and aggressively seeking other forms of funding also.

Okay. And so in the past, the state was supportive in the program in terms of funding because they have a lot of unfunded mandates on Shelby County and it's impacting our budget directly.

Yes, the state does fund us. We've had a grant from the state since 2006 as being the largest one, but that doesn't meet all the needs, especially as the population is changing. We're taking all high-risk, high-needs individuals who are in the program at least 18 months. A lot of them are unhoused and need housing assistance once they complete residential as well.

And last question. And so with the task force, I know, Judge, you mentioned that it's impacting your courts 30%, I believe. And so I would like a figure with that because, again, we're having to subsidize things that's being mandated by the state. And so not necessarily Monday, but can you start accumulating or establishing some type of... spreadsheet so we can see the increase since the task force has been here and what it's costing us as far as our court system. And you know me, I will put out a resolution asking all divisions to do the same thing because we have to be reimbursed because our funding, as everybody knows, is dwindling to the point that it's really impacting our ability to support the programming, the divisions like we're supposed to, and our obligations are foremost, like the courts. So, again, I do support this, but I do want you to think about how you can go back and give us a dollar figure, the impact of the task force, and not Monday, but just think about it, and we can get together offline. Thank you so much.

All right, thank you, Commissioner Sugarman. Commissioner Mills.

Thank you. I'm looking here and I'm wondering how many, I see the number that graduate from the program. Are there any number of relapses from people that graduate from this program?

The statistics that we have on graduates are recidivism rates. And only 25% of those who, well, it's 24, I believe, .65. It's under 25% will be arrested or have been arrested and convicted of a new charge. After graduating?

Correct. My next question, did y'all try to get this in the budget and it was denied, or this is just y'all thought to bring this after the budget?

Well, let me just say, we had talked to the administration about it, but we were not able to get it into the budget, so we came directly to the commission about it.

Okay, so the mayor said no, so now you're coming to us after the budget?

Well, the mayor didn't say no. What happened is we were thinking that the administration would have a committee formed to suggest that the way that the opioid funds would be distributed. That was what the state of Tennessee had indicated that the jurisdictions usually form committees. Drug court being one of the participants in this committee, and we had talked to the administration about the committee, but it was never formed. So it was not included at this point.

Okay, that takes me in several directions because I do remember having someone here talking about the opioid funds, and that was one of their recommendations. And that's my other concern. I feel like it's just we're doing things first come, first serve, and we don't have a plan on anything. Okay, those were my two questions. Thank you.

All right. Thank you all. So, you know, again, it's budget committee. So we like budgets. So really want to come back to the fact that, one, we need a not just a budget, but a really detailed budget of how this fits in and what the sustainability plan is. And then we also need to see the opioid fund budget, because this is something that we amended over the course of the budget process. And that's still a moving target. So I'd like to have, before we close this item out, Director Tipton, if you can give us an overview of where the opioid budget is and if this is approved, where that takes the projected balance.

Thank you. Audrey Tipton, director of administration and finance. I did want to bring to memory when we first got the opioid funds, the administration was told they did not control those funds, that the commission would be the ones to allocate all funds coming through opioid. So that is why we did not budget. anything in the opioid fund. And secondly, I did send everyone on July 15th the FY27 budget for the opioid funds. And I preface that by saying that these funds do come in sporadically and that the funds that we get from the state abatement are an estimate. I don't know exactly how much it's going to be, so I put in the estimate that they gave me for FY27. And based on the funding that we had left over from FY26, it was a sufficient amount to cover the $500,000 that this resolution is requesting. So that's why we did approve and move this forward for your approval.

Okay, now this combined with the amounts that were approved in the fiscal year 27 budget, you're saying they are available to spend without any kind of cash management?

R.J. Tipton, Director of Administration Finance. You kind of threw me a bit when you said with any kind of cash.

Well, so cash flow, cash flow. So, you know, obviously we have the bigger cash flow challenge around tax collections. This one's another type of cash flow challenge of how the opioid settlement funds would come in. It's hard to predict. So what we need to understand is if we're approving all these items with the amount that we expect to come in, Is it true or untrue that they are already in the bank such that they could be expended without having to wait on a receivable sometime later in the year?

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. The opioid fund is a special revenue fund, yes. And you must manage that cash. And because the amount for FY27 is an estimate, if we get to the end of the year, based on the budget, we have not exceeded what we have available to us right now. So right now, the budget for 27 includes the items that were approved, which were Heal the Hood, Hospitality Hub, and the CEP grants, and also the carry forwards from last year. So currently, we have enough cash to cover most of this. So it's not in jeopardy. I'll say that the estimate that's going to come in, it's not going to be much lower than this number.

Okay. Did you include the mental health court? That item was also added in.

Yes. Yes. Well, the mental health court for Judge Sugarman?

No. Judge Renfrow?

Judge Renfrow.

The funding sources swapped during the budget.

Okay. Maybe it's in Judge Sugarman's section.

Okay. That was the $400,000? Yeah, $400,000. Yes.

I think we just have it on the same line. Yeah, it needs to go there.

Okay, yep. All right, so we could take this to a vote. For me, I want to see a budget still, Judge Wilson, so we can make sure that we have that to amend on Monday. That would be helpful. All right, Madam Clerk, please spread the screen to vote. All right, we can close the screen and record the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioner Sugarman, Mills, Shalai, Wright. We have four aye votes.

All right, item three will go down with a favorable recommendation. Item number four.

Item four is a resolution approving the contract to audit the fiscal year 2026 financial statements of Shelby County Government by Cherry Baker LLP and Banks Finley and White Company. This item requires expenditure of FY2027 general fund operating budget in an amount not to exceed $898,000, sponsored by Commissioner Michael Whaley.

All right, thank you. If we get a mover and second, moved by Commissioner Shalai, seconded by Commissioner Wright. All right, Deputy Director Schaumbom.

Good morning, Danielle Schaumbom, Deputy Director, Administration and Finance. This is a resolution before you to audit our FY2026 books. Continuing with Cherry Beckert, our auditor who came on board last year, and Bank Finley and White, you will note that Watkins-Uberall is no longer part of the team. We recommend approval.

Okay. Commissioners, any questions on item four? All right. Seeing none, we can prepare the screen to vote on item number four. Thank you. We can close the screen and record the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Whaley, Mills, Wright. We have three aye votes.

Item four will go down with a favorable recommendation. Item number five.

Item 5 is a resolution approving the Memphis Shelby County Schools operating and capital improvement budgets for fiscal year 2027, FY27, in the aggregate amount of $1,679,750. Oh, wait a minute, $1,679,000,000. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I haven't had to read the number. Is that a trillion? Okay, okay. All right, $1,679,759,000. Is it? Wait a minute. That is a trillion. Okay, you read the number. Tell me what the number is.

Tito Langston, Mississippi County Schools is $1,679,759,131. I think the decimal points are. Okay. All right. So $1,679,759,131 as adopted by the Shelby County Schools Board of Education, sponsored by Commissioner Michael Whaley.

All right. Item five, moved by

Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Sugarman. Okay, there's a substitute. There's a substitute item that was just passed out here that changes the amount and also the date of approval as the budget was amended to match our capital allocation that we approved in our budget. So I'll move the substitute. Is there a second? Seconded by Commissioner Wright. Without objection, we'll now consider the substitute. Madam Parliamentarian, can you read the substitute caption?

Yes, sir. The substitute caption for this item reads, Resolution approving the Memphis Shelby County Schools operating and capital improvement budgets for fiscal year 2027, FY27, in the aggregate amount of $1,799,354,177 as amended and adopted by the Shelby County Schools Board of Education, sponsored by Commissioner Michael Whaley.

All right. Thank you, Chief Langston. If you'll in your remarks, if you'll first explain the difference in the caption amount and then we can we really want to try to focus here on on the budget approval timeline, which I know you laid out for us. in addition to any other highlights on this budget, and then we will be sure to ask questions as it relates to that. So first, help us understand why the caption is different, and then we'll give you a chance to go through the presentation.

Tito Langston, Memphis Sheppard County Schools. Thank you, Commissioner Whaley. So the original number that we read out was from our original budget that was adopted by our board on May the 26th of 2026. It didn't include any of the additional capital deferred maintenance that this body approved on June the 29th. So what we did was in the month of July, on July the 29th, I believe, we amended our budget to include $11.9 million. Commissioners, if you remember, there was some discussions around the mayor and the administration team about possibly $11.9 million going towards a new bill for Treadwell. The commission approved it to go to deferred maintenance. One of the things that we wanted to do is approve our budget in enough time to get the template to the counties and finance administration teams so that we're not the hold up to get the budget to the state. So we adopted our budget in May, not knowing what the capital would be. So again, we're amending our budget to include the deferred maintenance. And in your packet you have before you, you'll see where we allocated the $11.9 million to some projects that we feel strongly that we can complete during this school year.

Okay, great. All right, so let's go through your presentation, and then we'll take questions from there.

Yes, sir. I'll go briefly through. I'll be brief with this one. First, starting with the timeline, again, on Tuesday, May 12th, we presented our proposed budget to our board. And then on Wednesday, May 13th, the superintendent and myself appeared before this body to present our budget to this body. On the Tuesday to 26th, again, our board adopted our budget on the 26th without that capital piece because, again, it also included the line item template that we have been discussing for some time so that we can get it in front of the county's finance team so we can get it into the state. Then on the 27th, we did send our adopted budget over to the county's finance team to be included in the county's budget. Then on June the 4th, we followed up with the finance team. On June 29th, as I mentioned, you guys adopted your budget. Then we knew at that time what would be the capital aspect of it. On the 28th of July, we amended our budget to include that capital piece. And then here we are today on the 5th. Next slide. So this is quickly the quick changes of how we amended our budget. One piece of it was the $11.9 million for capital, but we also did some fund balance assignments on our side to be able to amend our budget. So that's why you see it going from $1,679,759,131 to $1,799,354,177. Some, again, may look at that and see it's more than $11.9 million, but I'll quickly go through and tell you why it's more than just $11.9. Next slide. So, again, this is just an amended budget. We amended the general fund to include $104 million worth of fund balance assignments. I have the details in the back in a minute that I'll show you, but our fund balance assignments that we did basically is one-time things, particularly around additional capital projects that we need to do to keep the schools going. And then we also had $11.8 million of a summer learning grant that we amended our budget for. So again, that's why you're seeing a large increase in our budget from what we adopted to what we amended. Next slide. This next slide is just all funds, again, to get you, show you all of our major funds. Again, you'll see the main one is in the capital improvement fund. The $96 million is what's left of the new Fraser-Tresmond Community School, the new East Region High School, as well as the $11.9 million for deferred maintenance. Next slide. And then this is the detailed next slide of the fund balance assignment that we did. Our policy, our board has a policy that we have to stay between 8% and 15% of our expenditures. Next slide. And this is a breakdown of what we did for our fund balance assignment. So, again, we did a textbook adoption. for over $20 million. We closed some schools and brought two new schools online. That took us about $4 million of things that we needed. In addition to what you guys gave us, we've done over $33 million in other facility investments. We care for some purchase orders. We set aside some funds for student devices, set aside some money for judgments. We have a wrap-back services for fingerprinting for five-year employees. We're doing an athletic investment, and then proximity learning is virtual schooling. So this $104 million we're adding to our budget from our fund balance assignments to balance it for one-time things. And then after all of that is done, we're still sitting at 21% for our fund balance, which is over the 15% that's required. And next slide is the capital project. So again, commissioners, you have this slide, and you'll see this slide makes up a couple things. That $33 million that I quoted is carried forward from last year. of about $10 million and these $23 million is new projects that we're doing out of our fund balance. And again, you'll see that almost $11.9 million of funding that we use from capital funding of projects that we strongly feel like we can finish throughout this year so we're not holding up any bond funds. I believe that's my last slide and I'll take any questions now based on that.

All right, thank you, Chief Langston. Can you, and commissioners, feel free to jump in the queue here. Can you help us understand the breakdown of the 96 million that's allocated to capital from the count, like maybe an aging summary of the years of these funds?

Yes, sir. So the majority of it starts in 24, but the majority of it is just carryover funds. Remember, we still have New East Region High School that we hadn't started on, so we still have the lion's share of those funds. We have the new Fraser Community School that we're finishing, and then again, the $11.9 million that you allocated for deferred maintenance, that makes up the $96 million. So the only money that we have outstanding this with the county is...

2024 but it that is your new East region and your Fraser community schools any funds related to it Okay, can you just make sure we all have the exact breakdown of those capital by year and the allocated projects? Yes, sir. Okay, Commissioner Wright

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Langston, for being with us. This budget timeline is helpful. That was some of the questions that I had. I appreciate the chair queuing those questions up. I think in particular because this is the latest that this board has ever entertained the school budget in my term of office. And so I've been trying to figure out where we are with the budget, and people have been asking me where things stand with the budget. So I did hear your comments in the Board of Education meeting saying that you had sent the budget to the Board of Commissioners on May 27th. This timeline says that you sent it to the Finance Department. Can you clarify that? Who exactly you sent the budget to in May?

Tito Langston, Memphis Sherwood County Schools. Again, I think what I said in the board meeting is what the timeline says. Again, on the next day after our board adopted our budget, I did email to the county's finance team as well as Mr. Perry. the um adopted budget that included the line item template that our board approved on may 27th um that's kind of how we do it because um as a school district we can't make a resolution to this body so we did send it over to the county's team to be able to do so okay i appreciate that um

So I understand that something had to be amended with the amount that was changed from Treadwell to deferred maintenance, just changing really the title of that line from what the proposed budget was. Can you help me understand why this is just now coming to this board, though? Or is there anything more that you would share with that?

Tito Langston, Mayor of the Sheppard County Schools. no more that I can share other than again it was my entire goal was to ensure that and again the reason why I actually had asked our board to adopt our budget earlier because again the last few years we've been hearing schools maybe to hold up for getting the line item template to the state so I wanted to ensure enough time again what I'm also telling you is that at that time because this body didn't adopt your budget until the 29th of June. I didn't know where you would land for capital, but a budget is just an estimate. That's why we amended. So wherever you landed for capital, we would always come back and amend our budget for it, but it wouldn't hold us up from a timeline of getting the budget to the state in a timely manner. So, um, On my end, I feel like we did everything like we normally do and even took it a step further to ensure that we can get in front of the state to satisfy all compliance.

All right. Thank you, Commissioner Wright. Commissioner Sugarman?

Thank you so much. I have a series of questions, of course, being a teacher of 18 years in the classroom. And so what was the date that you sent the budget to Chief Perry? Because I looked at my emails. I have not received it. Number two, we would like a line item budget with details. If you sent that, that's fine. If not, please send it directly to the commissioners. I don't know about colleagues, but I have not received it. The other thing I have a question about in particular, I'm hearing a lot, people want to know as far as the oversight board is concerned, who is actually paying for it? Is that in your budget? Because I can't see in the details. because that should be paid by the state, not the school board or taxpayers in Shelby County anyway. And then the other thing, as far as your summer program, I understand that you said there was an increase in expenditures, and I was wondering if that was impacted because of the governor deciding not to fund SNAP. And I thank you all for stepping up and feeding our children during the summer. So thank you for that.

Teeter-Lanks, the Mayor for Sherpa County Schools. Thank you for your questions, Commissioner Sugarman. I'll try to take them in order. First, on the 27th, we sent the email to Director Tipton, Ms. Steele, and Mr. Perry with the line item detail budget that we approved in the state's template that they requested. You asked about – I should have wrote this down, so I apologize –

Yes. I asked you to send the detailed budget to all the commissioners because we wanted to see what's out. I'm hearing that people want to see whether or not we're actually funding the oversight board. Where is that coming from the state?

To your likes and membership of County schools that, um, no. So as of right now, and our budget doesn't include us paying an oversight board. So at the time we adopted our budget, um, there wasn't any, um, approval of the oversight board. So, um, If something changes, we would amend our budget. But currently, right now, what you have before you today doesn't have anything paying the oversight board from the school's budget. The last piece you asked about the summer program, what you see here is the summer learning grant that we got from the state of $11 million. It's kind of a multi-year thing. We used to run that program in June, but we allocated, but some of it may spill over to July. So what you see is that we allocated it last year, but we're allocating it this year because some expenditures may cross over. So and if there's any funding that goes outside of that we'll amend the budget again So this the 11.8 million dollars that you see is what we received from the state to do our summer learning grant and so the last question is the follow-up is Have you been impacted by any unfunded mandates by the state? Tito thanks to me for Sheba County Schools We get quite a bit of unfunding mandates. I'd have to send you a list of things that we have. So the state often send a lot of mandates that they don't fund. So it's quite a list, but I'm happy to share it with the commission.

Thank you. I'll get back in the queue.

All right. Thank you.

Commissioner Caswell. Thank you, Chair. Yeah, and I'd like to see that list as well. My first question was to the East School. I know that we had the situation with the state, I mean the city, about property. Have we identified that yet, the new location, or is that still being considered?

Tito Langston, Memphis, Sherbrooke County Schools. It's still being considered by law. We have till 2032 for our students in Germantown, high, middle, and elementary to be out of those school buildings. So between now and then, what we have a resolution by this body says that we have to build an equal, provide an equal or a better opportunity for those students. Currently, right now, we haven't identified a new space, but we continue to try to look for that space each and every day.

I appreciate you bringing that to light because I thought it was 2029 we had to be done, but you say it's 2032. All right, so that helps there. And when we look at this, I was just looking at the list, too, of some of the things that there are, and I live right across the street from Scenic Key Elementary, so I see how terrible the wonders are. I'm glad to see they finally will get that addressed. Is that something that's going to get addressed this year?

Yes, sir. This year. Okay.

All right. Well, thank you. Thank you, Chair. All right. Thank you. Commissioner Mills?

Thank you. Thank you for being with us today. My question, does this budget incorporate any recommendations or concerns identified through the audit that the comptroller did, or were the results unavailable when you worked this budget?

Tear lengths to Memphis Shepherd County Schools. At the time, well, if you remember, this budget was adopted. We didn't get the final report until July the 5th, I believe. So at that time, we didn't have the full information. But what we do have currently now is a corrective action plan, and we will amend this budget to include anything that's a part of that corrective action plan and bring it back before this body.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Commissioner Sugarman?

Okay, thank you again for your support of our kids and our teachers, the things that you all have done as far as retention of teachers, et cetera. But I want to go back to our students, and what is... As far as the reading proficiency levels, math proficiency levels, what things have you all included in the budget to increase those numbers? I know in some areas and some schools are increasing, but, you know, again, overall, what are you all doing to increase those numbers?

Tito Langston, Mississippi County Schools. Thank you for the question, Commissioner Sugarman. One of the things that we focused on this year is kind of continuity in teachers. One of the things that we're offering is a bonus to our teachers who stay at the school that they were at last year. So one of the things that we strongly believe is that continuity with teachers is going to help relationships for students. For instance, I have last year, both of my My kids went to White Station Elementary. One was in the fifth grade, one was in the second grade. My second grader knows all about my fifth graders teachers because they stay at White Station Elementary and their continuity helps because as a parent, I know those teachers and what they demand for our students. So that's one of the biggest bangs. And of course, literacy is our main focus. One of the things that we're doing in this visit is working on literacy. We're looking at bringing a rise to read back and things of that nature. And the other thing, we're just focusing strongly on Tier 1 instruction. So at the heart of things, we believe that if we can get our educators to be certified, that if we do Tier 1 instruction, those scores will improve.

Okay, I still have a minute and 15 seconds left. And so is ARAS reading, is that similar to AR reading program? I'm not familiar with ARAS reading. And then the other thing I want to talk about is the CTE programs. Okay, as far as expanding, I understand that you're expanding them, but the question I asked the superintendent and wasn't clarified is that with all these buildings, you know, trade is huge. And a lot of my students, for example, are not going to college and I'm there to say it's across the board. because they see trade is the way to go because electricians, in a couple years, we make it over $100,000. So we have dual enrollment for colleges. And my question is, I know we have CTE programs, but my question is, what about a dual enrollment with trade schools as well? If you all, you know, considered that. Not increasing the number at the school sites, but outside. Do you understand what I'm saying? Okay, thank you.

Great question. Tito Langston, Memphis Sherry County Schools. Great questions, as always. Commissioner Sugarman, to your first question, Arise to Read is just kind of a tutoring program where volunteers come in and read to students at the elementary level. You mentioned AR. AR is accelerated reading, which is really just a path for our students to read as many books as they can, the ones that they are interested in, to help them with phonemic awareness.

Are you bringing that back? Because a lot of teachers want that back.

We... We actually brought it back last year. I think we probably need to do more of a rollout in the education of this year. So we actually brought it back last school year.

Because it's not at all schools. But then the last question, please.

Yes, ma'am. So last question about CCTE. So to your question, again, really good question. So there's a couple of things we, superintendent, myself, as well as some of the academic team members met with CCTE last year. One of the things we talked about is that CCTE We have schools who have the ISM grant where high schools got a million dollars, middle schools got $500,000. So there's a lot of our schools who are building out CCT programs and moving down as early as middle schools and sometimes even elementary. So what we know is their programs are being housed at the school site, but what we want to do is, you know, we have our CCTE centers, Sheffield, Transvent, we have Southwest and those centers that we want to build out as well. Those centers are where we want to do some of the things that you mentioned. So we're working strongly with those funds that we have to build out those centers, as well as you'll see us working with a more tech and things of that nature where we can't do it in-house, working with those people to do those trades that we know kids are interested in because This is just a Tito thing, not everybody else. Every student may not go to college, but there's a lot to be had if kids can get a trade and begin to collecting funds and getting a wage as soon as they graduate from high school.

All right. Thank you. Commissioner Wright.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I have way more questions than can be fit in three minutes or even six minutes, but I'm going to do my best continuing forward. I would ask the county attorney, because I have questions for you, Ms. Smith, if you could come forward, since I still have you, Mr. Langston, while she's doing that. Can you help me as far as The budget is concerned for the schools. If the school board or the board chair in particular wanted to pull funding in order to engage an outside PR firm to write scripts for the board or to create videos for the board, where would they pull that funding from? What line would they pull that from?

Tito Langston, Memphis Shepherd County Schools. Our school board has a department that they operate out of, so they have their own budget in our school board department.

But if they wanted to engage an outside PR firm, where would they pull that funding?

They would pull it from their departmental budget that they have as a school board.

From the school board's own budget?

Yes, sir. They have their own departmental budget. Okay.

All right. Great. For the county attorney, my first question would be why is this resolution as well as the original, the substitute and the original, are both stamped attorney-client privilege? Can you explain why that is and who is the client?

Megan Smith, county attorney's office. I don't know. I did not put the label on it, so I don't know why it's stamped that way.

Awesome. Did the Board of Commissioners adopt a county budget on June 29th?

Megan Smith, yes.

Okay. And prior to that date, had we approved the school budget?

No. No.

So if that's the case, if we've already passed the county budget on June 29th and we had not passed the school budget, how can the county's attorneys who are appearing before a federal court, how can they claim, how can it be the county's position that our powers are infringed by a new state law that would potentially or has in theory the power to delay the approval of the county budget. Given where we are now, where you just stated we've passed the county budget, how can we also assert in federal court that that's not possible before we pass the school budget?

Yeah, I appreciate the question. Megan Smith, County Attorney's Office. My preference would be to discuss litigation in an executive session and not an open session here. Thank you.

Well, I can certainly understand why you would not prefer that, because it doesn't make any sense. The county's position makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. For the Director of Finance, I asked you on July 27th when this board should expect to entertain the school budget. You stated that you were not sure. You made reference to the May presentation. Do you need to revise your answer?

Thank you. Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. I will be glad to respond to that. The Administration of Finance is responsible for the Shelby County government budget. Within that budget is the maintenance of effort for the Shelby County Schools, which was included in there, which was approved. Shelby County Schools, with their very competent finance person here, is responsible for Shelby County Schools budget. And they presented that to this body. This body and Shelby County Schools are responsible for preparing a resolution and presenting it to this body for approval. That is not the responsibility of the administration of finance. That is the responsibility of Shelby County Schools and this body. to present a resolution to approve the Shelby County Schools budget. So basically what Mr. Langston sent over to the finance department is what is included in the packet that we submit to the state. It does not include a resolution from this body, it includes the resolution from the Shelby County School Board, which was included in there. And we were talking to them back and forth because we both want to get our budget approved by the state. So that was included. We have received that information from them and we thank them for it, for getting it on time. But as far as the resolution to be presented to this body, that is the responsibility of this body's staff to bring a resolution.

I'm out of time. We'll do an abbreviated third round on this one, but I do want to get back to the last question Commissioner Wright was raising around the timeline because this is clear. Of all the stuff we've discussed, this is the clearest opportunity to strengthen the system because from what I can understand is the school's Attempted to approve things on the schedule. They were expected to approve them on the original budget was submitted That you sent it director Langston the day after But it was not sent to any commissioners. So that's one opportunity right at least the budget chair or the chair gives another redundancy right of making sure that not just one or two staff members are sent it and because we're doing a ton of stuff in the budget season, especially. So even if that's the system changes, like make sure the budget chair and the chair gets it and maybe another secondary staff member. But we can get back to that later, but I just want to call that out because that to me seems like the biggest opportunity here, and then we need to also get confirmation about where do we go from here with regard to state submission and approval of this budget. We need to make sure that we're not missing anything at this point because of this delay. All right, Commissioner Caswell.

Thank you, Chair. And as he says, there's a lot more to go into. But I just have a couple of when I think about the state at this point. One of them being that I know I'm working with another group and we're focusing on the impact of TANF dollars, right, over a billion dollars that the state have in rainy day fund. Did this state get 99 million a year? Almost 30 million is cut out of that. They're going to a rainy day fund. But the same state as we've been advocating to them. And do you all have a lobbyist that work on your behalf? on the school board and they go to the state to advocate. One of the things that we're saying to the state is that when we talk about $30 billion, a billion dollars, and we talk about pre-K and their focus to see that every child is reading on, because I had a meeting with law enforcement a couple of weeks ago and they said to me that we don't need to, we need to be funding, Pre-K, we need to be putting it into the jail. And all the research and study shows us that if these children ain't reading by third grade level, they start building jails for them. So there's a disconnect of how we treat things here when it comes to root cause. So I just say, one, in your lobbying to the state, that there is a pocket that could be helping us when we talk about pre-K that could put families back to work sooner because their child is in pre-K and the parent, even at three and four years old, can get that development for the child boring at the highest level so i just want to lay that there are the other thing deals is desperate to lobby in uh... mister langston uh... what we're also researching the elspeth unused money of best go into the hope scholarship fund because he is not going to four-year college what could we use that towards trade schools uh... could we use those dollars towards pre-k uh... also to support what we're trying to do here locally so i think this from that point Just laying that on your table because we know where we are as a county and we have to be intentional to try to tap some of those resources that they get from the federal level that never get to the ground, to the local level, right? So I just wanted to lay that at your feet and you can take that back to your lobbyists and hopefully we can get some correlation and hopefully that this next body and your body and the city and all of us are on one accord when we go to Nashville to ask for these type of things that we're saying we want to address, right, when it comes to our children's education and their capacity to thrive in Shelby County. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, Commissioner Caswell. All right. So Commissioner Sugarman, this will be a third round. We'll do a regular third round here, but let's try to get all of our questions out in this round, and then that way we can take this down to Monday and probably have some more discussion. Commissioner Sugarman, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. And so I just want to put on record that I'm an employee of Shelby County Schools, Memphis Shelby County Schools. And so I'm going to recuse myself. Although I do support this budget, I cannot vote on it. Thank you so much.

All right. Thank you.

Commissioner Wright. Thank you again, Mr. Chair. Back to the county attorney, if you would. Can the Board of Commissioners adopt an amendment to the MSCS operating budget?

Megan Smith County Attorney's Office, the state law requires that this body approve it. Yes.

Approve as is?

Well, for your consideration, these amendments come to you for approval. Vote up or vote down.

Okay. So we can amend the CIP but not the operating budget is my understanding. We can amend... the amount of CIP funding that's going to the schools, but we can't amend their operating budget.

Megan Smith, County Attorney's Office. That's correct. The operating budget establishes your MOE capital is subject to county budgeting.

Okay. I guess this might be either for Mr. Langston or Director Tipton. Concerning the MOE, I'm seeing some different numbers, and I just want to make sure I understand what the MOE is, because I think there's a number in the 500 million range that you have coming from county sources that on our side is a 300 million dollar range. Do I have it right that what what's being represented there is the 300 million range is property taxes and 500 encompasses sales tax and wheel tax? Are there any other funding streams that aren't included in those three that make up that MOE number?

tier likes to Memphis Shepard County Schools. Commissioner Wright, you're correct. The county has, the education fund is $427 million. We make up roughly about 75 and a half percent of that with our schools, which is the 328, $330 million or so. And in addition to that sales tax, mixed drinks tax and things of that nature gets us to the $512 million.

Thank you for that clarification. The district announced the formation of a local accountability committee. How many times has that committee met?

Tito Langston, Memphis-Hilbert County Schools. I believe if you're talking about a local accountability, I believe you're talking about something that the board initially discussed. But from my recollection, and I'll have to get it back to you, but I don't think it met at all.

Okay. Let me go back to Director Tipton. You are listed as the person who prepared the resolution. Can you share when you prepared the resolution?

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. That resolution was prepared last week, I think. A week before last, I'm sorry.

Week before last?

In order to get it on this agenda.

Was it prior to July 27th?

It was prior to that date, yes.

So I'm out of time again, but that's very confusing to me, Director. I'm trying to be friendly, but again, I asked you... when this board would expect to be entertaining this resolution. And if you had already prepared this resolution before I asked you that, please clarify.

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. After the Commission meeting, the question was, where is the resolution? I had not received anything from the commission to prepare the resolution. So the resolution needed to be done. So we started the resolution. We prepared the resolution with the original $1.6 billion. Then we got word last Friday that the board, the school board, had amended the budget. So that's why we have the substitute before you to approve the resolution in its entirety now. which would include the whole Memphis Shelby County School Board budget. So when you asked me about when the resolution was coming, I did not know when the resolution was coming. That is when we came back, we looked to see, okay, we haven't received anything from the commission, so we prepared the resolution.

All right. Um, so I'd like to get back to what I was discussing earlier, which are, which is two, two main things, which I think are among the most important here. One is how do we ensure the structure going forward, uh, that there's more redundancy to make sure that this lapse doesn't happen. Right. Uh, so we need a system and we need to adopt a system, I think by resolution. Okay. So we just put that on the record. So I want to make sure that that is something that we can, I mean, I'd love to see it at our next meeting so we don't leave it to the next commission to try to get that done. It should be as simple as when it's sent, who's it sent to, who prepares it to make sure it gets properly before us during the budget. I mean, we should be able to prove it concurrently, okay? The second thing is, probably more important, is how does this leave us with the approval of the state in sending and submitting these documents to make sure we don't run into the situation where we did last year.

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. The process should be discussed with your CAO on getting the resolution done first. Secondly, we have not submitted to the state the final packet. We have been working with them and giving them the documents early so they can review. They're not reviewing for our numbers. They're reviewing for structure and to make sure that we have everything included. So we've been working with them on that. We submitted actually what the school board submitted to us the first time. And they're approving all of those things for us as far as form. So Audrey Tipton does not think that it puts us in any jeopardy with the state because we have not officially submitted our package.

Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you so much, Chief Tito. All right. Sorry. Chairwoman Avant, you got you in the queue.

Thank you, Chair. Ms. Tipton, as far as the state, I know that one of the questions they had last year was a more line item budget. And so... from what you just stated, you all are working with them to go over all of the budgets in their form, making sure that they have what line item information they need for each of those budgets, and what is the estimated date that we will submit the final budget?

Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance. We are working to get everything final Let's see today. Hopefully over the next two weeks. The deadline is August 31st. We plan to have it done before then.

And the state has been, has to, you have been working with the state and there has been back and forth in order for us to make sure that they are reviewing before we make a final submission. That is correct. Okay. Mr. Chair, I think it would be helpful for us to do this by resolution. I'm also wondering, is this something that needs to be put in our permanent rules in order for us to make sure that this lag doesn't happen again? And so that's just another recommendation as a way to cover ourselves.

Yeah. Um, no, I, I mean, it's just clearly an opportunity to strengthen the system both on, on our side. Um, I mean, there's three parties here, right? It's the schools County finance and the County commission. So making sure that everyone's on the same page and understands what we should be looking for, um, I think is, is, is important. So whether it's in the permanent rules, maybe it's the resolution to change the permanent rules. Uh, but it also requires on the school's end to make sure that we're, we know exactly who we're sending it to and why, I think that'll help in the future. All right, Chairwoman Avent, good? Yes. Okay, all right. Madam Clerk, please spread the screen to vote on item five as substituted. All right, we can close the screen and record the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Whaley, Sugarman. No, excuse me. We have aye votes from Commissioner Whaley. Shall I? Hold on. Yes. Whaley, Shalai, and Chairwoman Avent, we have two no votes from Commissioner Mills. Wright, we have three ayes and two noes.

All right. Item five, we'll go down.

She took it off. She took it off.

All right. Can we just restate that? Yes.

Okay. Let me repeat the vote. We have three aye votes from Commissioner Whaley, Shalai, Chairwoman Avent, two no votes from Commissioner Mills, Wright. We have three ayes and two noes.

All right. Item five will go down with a favorable recommendation. This will conclude budget and finance.

Excuse me. I didn't hear my name. I recused myself. Did you mention that on record?

Okay. And Commissioner Sugarman recused. We have one recused.

Okay. That I'm, we'll go down with a favorable recommendation and this will conclude committee number one. Okay, why don't we just go ahead and call the next one up. Committee number six, education, read item number one.

And I'm happy to do so, Chair. Thank you. Parliamentarian, we're going to convene Committee 6, Education.

Yes, ma'am. Item one is an ordinance third reading joint ordinance of Shelby County government and the city of Memphis amending ordinance number 573 adopted April 14th, 2025 in furtherance of a program for a high quality early childhood pre-kindergarten for all sponsored by commissioner Erica Sugarman, commissioner Miska Clay Bibbs and commissioner McHale Lowry. The site was amended in July 27th, 2026 commission meeting.

There's a motion by Commissioner Shalai, a second by Commissioner Wright. Is there a presentation?

Thank you, Chair. Good morning, Commissioners. Hannah McCarthy, Community Outreach and Nonprofit Specialist, Shelby County Government. I wanted to just say thank you first and foremost to the sponsors of this item, Commissioner Clay Bibbs, Commissioner Sugarman, and Commissioner Lowry. Clear and consistent ordinance language signals a commitment to responsible governance that will carry across administration. So I want to say thank you to all of you for being champions of that. As you know, this ordinance is an administrative amendment. It is separate from the contract and does not change the current contract with the fiscal agent for State Memphis. Its purpose is to update the language of our ordinance for clarity and consistency. Thank you all for your continued support and consideration.

Okay, seeing no commissioners in the queue, please prepare the screen for a vote. Please report the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioner Shillai, Wright, Chairwoman Avent. We have three aye votes.

That goes down with a favorable recommendation. That ends Committee 6. I now will call to order Committee 3, Hospitals and Health. Parliamentarian, please read Item 1.

Item 1 is an ordinance first reading. Ordinance by the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee to amend Chapter 16, Article 2, Section 16-37, Appendix B of the Shelby County Code of Ordinances to adjust Title V permit fees and related air pollution control program fees beginning in 2026. Sponsored by Commissioner Miska Clay-Bidd.

There's a motion by Commissioner Shalai, second by myself, Chair Avant. Dr. Randolph?

Good morning, commissioners. Dr. Bruce Randolph, interim director, Sheppard County Health Department. And I have with me Deputy Director Casey Alexander, who I've asked to present on this matter.

Okay. Ms. Alexander?

Hey, good morning, commissioners. So I have a short presentation just to present to you guys. And the presentation is in your packets. No, it's the next one. So good morning, commissioners. My name is Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director of Environmental Health Services with the Shelby County Health Department. Thank you for giving me the time today to discuss an update to our Title V air permitting fees. This update is required under federal law and necessary to keep our program financially stable and functional for the residents of Shelby County. What does this law actually requires? Under the Clean Air Act, Title V is the permitting authority, whether state, local, tribal, or federal, must collect fees that fully fund the air permitting program. If the fees fall short, the county, not the regulated facilities, must make up this difference, and the program becomes underfunded. EPA at that time, Environmental Protection Agency, would be able to step in and require corrective action. Next slide. The Title V program that is required by law, just basically said what I just said. You can turn to the next one. Okay, thanks. So if you look at what's changing in Shelby County and looking at the program, Title V operating permits is a single legally binding document required under the Clean Air Act that combines all air pollution rule emission thresholds and monitoring rules for large industrial facilities. Next slide, please. As you look at the revenues here that are shown to you of the projection revenues, it will show you that in 2026, we are projecting revenues from the major sources to be $810,321. This is good news because that means our emissions are going down. Next slide. And this slide represents that change. If you can see in 2004, our emissions was over 25,000 tons per year here in Shelby County. As of this year so far, we are down to about 5,800, which is remarkable for our community. That means everyone is having clean air. Next slide, please. And I thought it was important to mention on this particular slide for you to just illustrate. These are the five top regulated industries here in Shelby County. As you can see, we have Nucor, Valero, Draslikov, Allen Combined Cycle Plant, TVA, and Mitsubishi. The most concerning thing I want to bring to your attention on this slide are the two zip codes that these five industries represent, 38109 and 38127. And in case if some of you are asking or thinking to yourself, XAI is number 25. Next slide, please. So when you look at the workload and the responsibilities for this team, they are responsible for permit writing, inspections, stack test review, compliance assistance, enforcement, and also monitoring the data. As of today, we used to have used to, 128 major sources. We now have 108 facilities, 27 major sources, and 81 conditional major sources. Next slide, please. So, again, why must the fees be updated? Legally, we are bound to update the fees due to that we have to sustain this program locally per federal guidelines. Without this update, the county general fund would have to cover this shortfall, not the facilities or the businesses. And then in fairness, larger facilities with more regulated requirements should pay their share because they are polluting the atmosphere in which we live, which is legally regulated by EPA. Just to give you an idea of how our program impacts this community. Last year alone, from July 1st, 2025 to as of now, June 30th, 2026, we collected penalty fees in the amount of $37,978.45 from various major facilities. Next slide, please. So again, if we don't update the fees, this is pretty much what we are looking at, that there will be a corrective action plan set forth by EPA. And then also, having a federal regulatory agency to come down, it would also mean that some of our communities would be disproportionately impacted. Next slide, please. So if you're wondering, and it is in your packet under Exhibit A, we did come up with a proposal of how these fees should look. You will see that some of the fees will remain the same. Some of them we did have to look at as far as increasing tremendously. But this was the most balanced and regulatory way to do this. Next slide. So the proposed fee structure is tiered and it is regulatory and aligned with the workload and the amount of emissions here in Shelby County. Majority of the increase is based on the number of applicable federal regulations. Increasing the minimum emission fees and adjusting annual fees based on regulatory complexity was key in looking at increasing the fees. This approach ensures that facilities with more requirements and more staff time pay appropriately. One of the things we did do before coming to this board is that we did have a meeting with the Memphis and Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board on March 20th, 2026. This did pass unanimously in front of them with the proposed fees as you'll see under Exhibit A. Next slide, please. While doing this, I do want you to keep in mind that we do also have to look out for small businesses when making sure, because we don't want to run away businesses. And when we say small businesses, some of you may be surprised that under the air permitting program, We do regulate dry cleaners, gas stations, auto mechanic shops because they do all emit as well. They are not impacted in the fee increases. We are truly looking at the major sources as indicated. Next slide. So if you're wondering where does the current money go in the programs and how is it impacted? As you can see, majority of the funds is on complaint responses and permit development. That is important to us and very impactful for the community. That means we are able to respond to complaints and we're also able to decide whether or not permits can be distributed to various facilities.

Next slide, please.

As stated before, one of the big benefits of this is having a local regulatory agency here in Shelby County to look at the best interests of our residents. This allows us to support our ability to protect vulnerable neighborhoods that are located right next door to some of these facilities. Next slide, please. So in summary, as stated over and over, this is a federal mandate. It is important that we prevent a budget deficit. It ensures the polluters, the facilities, not taxpayers, fund this program. It protects small businesses, and it supports the overall environmental goals. And it maintains essential public health services. We feel that this is reasonable, fair, and necessary to update. I will welcome any questions at this time. Thank you.

Commissioner Wright.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Ms. Smith-Alexander and Dr. Randolph for the presentation. I was just getting in the queue for some additional clarification so I make sure I understand. These fees are assessed, is it just being assessed to the 108 facilities or is it a larger number than that?

Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director, this is being assessed to the larger facilities, the increase.

But what's the universe of all entities that pay at least something? Do you have that?

I would have to include the number for the minor sources. The minor sources, again, we do look at all of Shelby County. I can have those numbers to you at least by Monday.

And I guess related to that, what makes an entity... I don't know if it's eligible is the right word, but what subjects an entity to this program?

Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director. All facilities are eligible if they are emitting pollutant into the atmosphere. So that's why sometimes people are surprised that dry cleaners are included in gas stations. something as small as that. All of us have been to the dry cleaners when you can smell the chemical in the air. That is something that we do have to regulate to make sure not only for the employees there, but for the neighborhoods that might be close by, that what they're emitting into the air is regulated by EPA guidelines. So anytime there's any type of pollutants that are emitted into the air, that is when they fall under our program.

And where or how is that determined? So let's say I'm a small, I've started a small business, how do I determine if, sorry for the feedback, who determines or how is it determined that my small business is contributing

Casey Smith Alexander, deputy director. So all businesses have to submit plans to code enforcement. Whether you're in Memphis, you're in unincorporated Shelby, or any of the municipalities, code enforcement will direct them to the health department to determine if they do have admittance that fall under our purview.

And then as far as the collection process, can you describe how that works?

Casey Smith Alexander, deputy director. So each year, each facility is, they have to renew their permit, essentially. They will send in the check, money order, or call it in to say that they need to renew their permit, and that's essentially, it's an easy process. What takes longer is when they have a violation, and we have to collect those penalty fees. But usually it's just a once a year annual permitting fee.

And when you say permit, you're not meaning an overall business permit, or are you?

Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director. No, this is just to operate. This is just to operate as far as emitting pollutants to be able to produce within Shelby County.

So it's a permit specific to pollutant, and is the health department collecting it, or is it going through county clerk, or how is it collected?

Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director. We collect it directly.

All right. Thank you for the leeway there, Chair. Thank you.

I see no other commissioners in queue. I do have one question. The fee structure and the change, is this based on best practices at other cities for how the fee structure has changed, some more dramatically than others?

Casey Smith, Alexander, Deputy Director, yes, most definitely. We did look at the surrounding areas, Atlanta, Georgia, in particular, Kentucky, and also St. Louis, and also the state of Tennessee, to look at comparability as to what they're charging and then what we needed to raise our fees to. Okay.

Seeing no other commissioners in the queue, please prepare the screen for a vote. Please record the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioner Sugarman, Wright, Chairwoman Avon. We have three aye votes.

That goes down with a favorable recommendation. Parliamentarian, please read item two.

Item two is an ordinance first reading, ordinance to amend the Shelby County Air Code to update references to the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Regulations, repeal obsolete provisions, and revise appeals procedures to provide for recovery of appeal costs. Sponsored by Commissioner Misca Clay Bibbs.

I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman, a second by Commissioner Wright. Dr. Randolph or Ms. Smith-Alexander, who's presenting?

Good morning again, Commissioners. Casey Smith-Alexander, Deputy Director, Shelby County Health Department. This is one of those issues before you that is very simple. We needed to update our code. We need to reflect what is going on in the state because the state adopts the federal laws as well. So therefore, we need to come before you. Some of the changes, as you will see in Exhibit A, are minor. It's just changing the wording. It hadn't been updated in a while. So some of the language even has Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. We no longer go by that. So some of it is just grammatical. Some of it is just making sure that we change the wording to reflect. And some of it is just reflecting what changed with EPA and be in line with the state.

Okay. Commissioner Wright, you recognize?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just had a question about the, I'm assuming this would take three readings like other ordinances, and we only have two meetings. This configuration of the board, does that present a problem?

Casey Smith Alexander. No, it doesn't for us.

Can I turn it over for the authoritative attorney answer to that?

Megan Smith County Attorney's Office, the ordinance would have to be completed before this body adjourns formally at the end of its term. The materials would not cross into the next term.

Okay. Thank you for speaking up on that. So that would require us to have a special called meeting or to kick this out to September?

Megan Smith County Attorney's Office, you would have to have a special called meeting. You would not be able to continue it to September.

County Attorney, so if we referred this to a September meeting, even this first reading of the ordinance, we're not able to do that?

Megan Smith, County Attorney's Office. My understanding of parliamentary procedure and how the body formally adjourns at the end of its term, no. You could not have standing business left from this body to transfer to the next body. So my recommendation would be to have a special called meeting to complete any of this business or withdraw that item and bring it back in early September.

Is this time sensitive?

Casey Smith, Alexander, Deputy Director, and I'm going to look to Attorney Smith on this. So doesn't the fee schedule have to have three readings as well, the one that was before this?

Yes.

So therefore, to answer your question, Madam Chairwoman, yes, this is very time sensitive.

Well, we just approved the other item. They're hand in hand. The other is a fee structure that they're trying to get in place. And we've approved it and sent it down with recommendation. So I've already voted on that item. All right, so I'm going to speak to the sponsor if these need to be withdrawn until September, just because I want to make sure that they are able to get through. I'm not looking forward to calling a special call meeting. So let me speak with the sponsor.

Point of information? Yes. So to the parliamentarian, couldn't we at the last meeting suspend the rules or could we just, you know, dismiss and have the special meeting right afterwards as opposed to another day? So I'm just trying to figure out what are our options. I want to hear all of the options, not just one, if there are any, according to our rules.

take this under advisement and then present a memo.

You guys take that one.

I want to consult with the chair in terms of the timing and the options, and then present a memo as it pertains to the permanent rules. And ordinances, there are some rules with ordinances that come from the permanent rules, and there are others that come from the charter. You cannot suspend the rules with respect to the charter. So I want to make sure that before I advise you on that, that I am advising you as it pertains to the permanent rules.

follow-up questions so then also all the options as opposed to couldn't we the question is adjourn and then reconvene the same day as opposed to coming back another days I like to all the options not just you know

Yes, that's what she just stated.

No, she was saying something else. There's two things I asked, not just one.

She's saying that she'll consult with me based on review of the charter and the permanent rules to present what all the options are, including the ones you just asked.

Thank you.

All right, we're going to go ahead and vote on this item. Commissioner Strickland, do you want to be recognized to ask any questions on this item?

I make a motion to be amended, I mean, for move to be added to this ordinance. Are we going to, my question is, okay, follow up. Are we going to vote this up and down now, or are we going to, okay. So I'll make a motion to be added to this ordinance.

I have a motion by Commissioner Sugarman to be added as a sponsor, a second by Commissioner Wright. Can we do that without objection? Seeing none, so moved. All right, please prepare the screen for a vote. Can you please report the vote?

We have aye votes from Commissioner Sugarman, Wright, Chairwoman Avent. We have three aye votes.

That goes down with a favorable recommendation. This adjourns Committee 3, Hospital and Health. I will now convene Committee 8, Community Services. Paul Monterian, please read Item 1.

Item 1 is a resolution approving the expenditure of FY2027 grant operating budget funds to the City of Memphis as a subgrant through funding made available by the Federal Justice Assistance Grant received from the United States Department of Justice for the purposes of crime prevention programs in the amount of $506,235 for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027. This item requires the appropriation and expenditure of federal grant funds in the amount of $506,235, sponsored by Commissioner Charlie A. Caswell, Jr.

I have a motion by Commissioner Wright, a second by myself. Hello, Ms. Whitehead. How are you? Do you have a presentation?

I do. Good morning, Commissioners Cherry, Whitehead, Thompson, Interim Director for the Division of Community Services. So these funds were received through the Federal Justice Assistance Grant, which we call JAG, which is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. And this is a joint allocation in which the county serves as a grantee. And per the established agreement, the award is divided evenly between the county and the city. So the amount that you see before you for $506,235 represents the city's share for the grant. And the JAG program supports initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime, enhancing compliance among justice-involved individuals, strengthening program infrastructure, and providing information technology upgrades to improve the effectiveness of local crime justice systems. And I'll end with the administration recommends approval of this item. If there are questions, I'll entertain them at this time.

Commissioner Wright, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Ms. Whitehead-Thompson. The budget states that all of these funds would be directed toward subgrant recipients. Is that, do I have that right? And can you share more about what that is?

That is true. Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, Interim Director. So these funds, so again, the City of Memphis receives half of the allocation, which is a 506-235, and This year, for this particular tranche of money, it has been allocated to Memphis Police Department for different services that they need. And then on the Shelby County side, we fund those criminal justice programs under Shelby County government. So those entities are Crime Victims Rape Crisis Center, the District Attorney's Office, Veterans Court, Pretrial Services, Direct Court, and the Sheriff's Office.

Great. And who is over that portion of the work with community services? Is it Lana Greer? Is that right?

So for pretrial, Cherry Whitehead Thompson, I always forget to do that. Cherry Whitehead Thompson. For the pretrial services, yes, Lana Greer is over that piece.

So is that the person who will oversee all the grants or is there someone else?

Cherry Whitehead Thompson, no. So on the Shelby County side, we handle it. So within our office, we administer it. And our grants manager was handling it before. We have now shifted that responsibility to another staff member.

Can you share who that is?

Nikina Stafford.

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Please prepare the screen for a vote. Please report the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Wright, Chairwoman Avon. We have two aye votes.

That goes down with a favorable recommendation. Parliamentarian, please read item two.

Item 2 is a resolution to amend the FY2027 Grant Operating Budget and to expend grant funds in the amount of $15,000 from the Tennessee Arts Commission and matching funds in the amount of $15,000 from Community Services General Funds to support arts programming in Shelby County for a period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. This item requires expenditure and appropriation of FY2027 grant funds in the amount of $15,000 and expenditure of FY2027 Community Services General Funds in the amount of $15,000 for a total amount of $30,000 sponsored by Commissioner Charlie Ed Caswell, Jr.

There's a motion by Commissioner Wright, a second by myself, Chair Avant, Ms. Whitehead-Thompson.

Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, Interim Director for the Division of Community Services. This item requests approval to accept a $15,000 matching grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to support our annual Arts for All Festival. As this is a matching grant, we have identified the required $15,000 matching funds within our operating budget to ensure the full support of this event. The administration recommends approval of this item.

Seeing no commissioners in the queue, please prepare the screen for a vote. Please report the vote.

We have aye votes from Commissioners Wright, Chairwoman Avent. We have two aye votes.

This goes down with a favorable recommendation. Parliamentarian, please read Item 3.

Item 3 is a resolution approving contracts of varying amounts between the Aging Commission of the Mid-South and 18 separate service providers for the purpose of providing nutritional and supportive services to eligible seniors and individuals living with disabilities in the service areas of Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton Counties effective upon execution through June 30, 2027 with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods for the total contract's amount not to exceed $7,805,729. This item requires expenditure FY2027 federal and state grant funds in the amount not to exceed $7,805,729, sponsored by Commissioner Charlie E. Caswell, Jr. I have a motion by Commissioner Wright, second by myself, Chair Avant, Ms. Whitehead-Thompson.

Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, interim director for the Division of Community Services. So this item requests approval for 18 service provider contracts that collectively deliver a wide range of supports, including activities at senior centers, nutritional programs, transportation and legal assistance, as well as home and community-based services such as homemaker and personal care support. These services are essential in helping seniors and adults with disabilities remain safely and independently in their homes for longer periods. In many cases, they also enable individuals to receive care from trusted loved ones, which can significantly enhance their overall health and well-being. These contracted providers serve residents across the four previously referenced counties, with the largest population residing here in Shelby County. Approval of this item does not impact the FY27 general fund budget, and the administration recommends approval of this item.

Commissioner Wright, you recognize?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Ms. Wyatt-Thompson. We've heard from the leader of the Aging Commission. Is the same leadership still in place with the Aging Commission?

Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, yes. Kim Daugherty.

Okay. And so I'm not sure how to even say this. There's under the, all of these sub awardees or these grantees, did they all respond to an RFP process? Is that how that worked?

Cherry Whitehead-Thompson, yes.

All right, I'm looking at you, legal. There's one of these that I have concerns about. Can you help me understand what, if any, remedy there might be if the board were to... Is there any option for the board to only accept... a subset of these awardees or is it an all or nothing prospect?

Megan Smith, County Attorney's Office. In the past, you have bifurcated items that needed a separate vote. So to the extent this one resolution needs to become two, that's one path forward for a vote on an item that needs to be taken out.

I think with that being said, Madam Chair, I would make a motion to send down without recommendation so I can give that some further thought and review.

I'll second that. Without objection, this goes down without a recommendation. There's no need to vote. Correct. All right. Recommendation without objection. Recommendation without objection. All right. Thank you, Ms. Whitehead. Thank you. This committee is adjourned. Moving to Committee 10. Parliamentarian, please read Item 1.

Item 1 is a resolution approving the election of notaries public for appointment and a reappointment for Shelby County, Tennessee, sponsored by Commissioner Henry E. Brooks.

Commissioner Sugarman, would you like to take over this committee?

Thank you so much, Chair. Yes, I would. Okay, so we read in item number one, is that correct? Yes, ma'am. Okay.

We didn't get a move or a second.

One second, please. Okay, can I get a move or a second? It's been moved by Chairwoman Avent and seconded by myself. Okay, I don't see anybody to present. Okay, let's take this item down for vote. Oh, County Attorney? Yes. Are there any conflicts?

Jordan Galtelli, County Attorney's Office. There are no conflicts to report. Thank you. And let's take this item down for a vote.

Would you please mark me as a yes? My screen's locked up.

Okay, we have a tally.

We have two aye votes from commissioners Sugarman, Mills. We have two aye votes.

Thank you. This goes down with a favor recommendation. Can we read the second item into the record, parliamentarian?

Item two is an ordinance second reading, ordinance to amend the Shelby County Code of Ordinances by amending Chapter 2, Article 4, Division 2, to add a new Section 2-191 financial reports sponsored by Commissioner Erica Sugarman.

Thank you so much. This item has been moved by myself and seconded by Commissioner Mills. And all this does is codify what the State Controls Office has been asking of our office is for to make sure that we're in compliance with line item budgeting as well as a detailed budget. And so I hope my colleagues will support this ordinance. Because it also reminds the public that this commission, this body, put in writing as a resolution this exact thing, which has been ignored for year after year. And all this does is codify what we've been asking the finance department to do. I don't see any commissions in the queue. Let's take this item down for a vote.

Please mark me as an aye.

Can we take this down for a tally?

We have aye votes from Commissioner Sugarman, Mills, Wright. We have three aye votes.

This item goes down as a favor recommendation. Commentary, read item number three into the record.

Item three is a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee, requesting election record preservation, transparency, and audit best practices consistent with state and federal law, sponsored by Commissioner Erica Sugarman.

Thank you. This item has been moved by myself and seconded by ... Can we get a second? Thank you, Commissioner Wright. And what this does is just request that the election mission follows the train of custody. It's not a requirement, it's a request. And also it ties back with our funding, because as the public knows, as well as my colleagues, we tripled the... funding source for the election commission. They have received $9 million, and so we do have a vested interest. And so, again, with all these instances going on with the election, this just, you know, requests that the election commission follows a chain of custody. And I don't see any commissions in the queue. Okay. Let's take this item down for a vote. All commissioners desiring to vote, please vote. Okay, let's take this item down for a tally.

We have one aye vote, Commissioner Sugarman.

This item goes down with a favor recommendation. Okay, and this concludes this committee, committee number 10. Okay, let's open up the next committee, committee number 11, core city, neighborhoods, and housing. Parliamentary, please read item number one into the record.

Item 1 is an ordinance second reading joint ordinance of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and Memphis City Council to amend ordinance numbers 581 county and 5946 city to repeal and replace the existing building home program implementation plan and to establish a building home program application fee sponsored by Commissioner Henry Brooks.

Thank you. This item has been moved by myself and seconded by Commissioner Wright. And we do have a speaker. Please state your name and position for the record. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Sugarman. Brett Ragsdale with the Division of Planning and Development. I have Ms. Sostrom here as well. She just passed out a substitute of the implementation plan. It's the same plan. It just shows the five changes that we are proposing. The original one that was submitted did not actually highlight those. So that's what this does. I know that Ms. Sostrom read those into the record earlier. at committee two weeks ago and at commission last week. So that copy that you're getting highlights those and we've asked to have that uploaded into OnBase as well so that it's clear.

Thank you so much. And I just have one follow up question from the commission meeting. Did you all reach out to the city council and individually or collectively did they support the changes?

We have talked with them. We are going to submit this to them as well since it's a joint ordinance, and there are no concerns about the changes we're proposing.

Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Okay, Commissioner Wright.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to say this was an item that I had seen a question come in from, I don't know if you'd call it an advocacy group, an industry group, Did you all have a chance to respond to that? Because I think I was copied on an email. Did you have a chance to respond?

Yes, Brett Ragsdale with the Division of Planning and Development. Yes, Commissioner Wright, I did respond to that group and explained to them. I think that there was some confusion because there was not the track changes and there was some misunderstanding about what was actually being proposed to change. So a lot of the questions, and I've reached out to them, so we're going to talk about some of the questions and if there are any, but I think that that was some of the reason the questions were about things that were already approved in the plan and not about the specific changes that we're talking about here.

Okay. I'm probably going to reframe just until I kind of circle up and make sure I fully understand what's happening here. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no other commissioners in the queue, let's take this item down for vote. Okay, so you know other commissions in the, did you want to vote? Okay, can we have a tally?

We have two aye votes from Commissioner Sugarman-Mills. We have two aye votes.

Thank you. This goes down with a favor recommendation. And this concludes Committee 11, Core City. Oh, okay. Never mind. Okay. Item number two. Can you read item number two into the record?

Item 2 is a resolution approving the sale of 23 county-owned delinquent tax parcels acquired by Shelby County from various Shelby County tax sales to identified purchasers at various prices collectively totaling $143,887.50 pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-5-2507 and authorized in the Shelby County Mayor to execute the claim deed sponsored by Commissioner Henry E. Brooks.

Thank you. This item has been moved by Commissioner Mills and seconded by myself. And we do have a speaker. Please state your name and position for the record.

Hey, Chad Dugard. I'm the Environmental Regulatory Manager for the Shelby County Land Bank. This is our standard DTP property resolution. This one consists of 23 properties with a total back taxes of $242,176.56. with a total sale price of $143,887.50. Of these 23 properties, there were three buyers that purchased a total of five properties.

Thank you so much for that report. I see no commissioners in the queue. Let's take this item down for a vote. Okay, can we have a tally?

We have aye votes from Commissioners Sugarman, Mills, Wright. We have three aye votes.

This item goes down with a fair recommendation. This concludes Committee 11, Core City Neighborhoods and Housing. Can we open up Committee 14, Equal Opportunity?

Item 1 is an ordinance second reading, ordinance amending Shelby County Government's locally owned small business LOSB ordinance section 2-224 in order to apply 25% LOSB goals based upon market availability and increase the sheltered market threshold to less than $50,000 in the county's procurement process. Sponsored by Chairwoman Shanteke Avant. This item is referred to Equal Opportunity Committee in July 27th, 2026 Commission Meeting.

Thank you, Parliamentarian. This item has been moved by myself and seconded by Commissioner Wright. Do we have any speakers? None. Commissioner Mills.

Thank you. I have a question on page five, second paragraph. If there's someone that can, I don't know if I can ask, can you answer questions? Or it might be a Attorney Smith question. The second paragraph, I don't know if it's intended to be there or not. It's got the asterisk and the brackets. It looks like it might be part of a draft suggestion. Alternative colon in addition to the above paragraph for contents valued at $50,000 or above, add that for contracts valued at $1 million or greater in any or all industry categories. The county will use contract by contract goals. I don't know with it being bracketed if that was maybe a draft suggestion or...

Megan Smith, County Attorney's Office. I understand it's drafted suggested language. This was proposed as a working document by EOC, so it's there for your consideration.

Okay. Well, I guess we need somebody here to speak to that, so I guess we really can't talk about this, Chair. I would move to send it down without recommendation. Maybe we can discuss on Monday. Is that a motion? It is.

Second. This item is moved down without recommendation. Is there any add-ons? Without objection? No add-ons? Okay. We stay adjourned. The committee is adjourned and the committee meeting is adjourned.