County Commission - Regular Meeting

Hello, sir.

Amen.

Yeah.

Forget my 17 year old.

and I'm happy to be part of it.

That's it.

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

Yeah.

You all might be seated. In accordance with the commission's permanent rules of order as the clerk of the county commission, I will begin a roll call for nominations for acting chairman. But before I do that, I will call a roll for attendance. Commissioner Odell present meals.

Present.

Dial. Present. Billingsley.

Present.

Avent.

Present.

Caswell. Present. Brooks. Richardson.

Present.

Streeter.

Present.

Rudd.

Present.

Clay Bibbs.

Present.

Sugarman.

Present.

Garcia. Present. We have 12 present. We have a quorum. Ms. Rankin will explain the election procedures for the acting chair at this time.

Rule 35 of the permanent rules of order is as follows in pertinent part. The chairman of the county commission shall request a roll call for nominations and each commissioner present shall have the opportunity to place into nomination one name. Today we shall begin. I guess how would that change if we're not going to have the chairman with the minutes? Will you do that? Or who would call that out? Okay, so so instead of requesting a roll call the minutes clerk shall uh conduct the roll call um and each commissioner present shall have the opportunity to place into nomination one name today we shall begin the nomination process with the commissioner of district one which is commissioner odell with the other commissioners following in numerical order the chair of the county commission excuse me the minutes clerk shall make

the last nomination, how does that change since we're not, who makes the last nomination?

Okay, so that will be removed today, okay. In each subsequent election, the roll call for nominations shall begin with the next numerical district on a chronological rotation basis for every election which shall be repeated when all district numbers have had an opportunity to make the initial nominations. Nominations may be taken from the floor. WE'RE GOING TO USUALLY IN THIS PORTION WE HAVE SPEECHES BUT SINCE THIS IS JUST FOR THE INTERIM CHAIR TO ELECT THE ACTUAL CHAIR, I DON'T THINK WE NEED SPEECHES JUST FOR THE ACTING CHAIR FOR TODAY'S MEETING. For the voting procedure upon conclusion of the speeches, the chair shall request a roll call for selection and each commissioner present shall have the opportunity to select one nominee by name to fill the vacancy. The roll call vote shall be conducted in the same numerical sequence as the nomination process. The nominee selected to fill the vacancy shall receive a majority vote of the membership of the County Commission, which is at least seven votes. If no nominee receives a majority first vote, the County Commission shall hold subsequent votes considering only those nominees as follows. One, after the first vote, only those nominees who receive two or more votes shall be eligible to continue in the process. After the second vote, Only those nominees who receive the top two numerical votes shall be eligible to continue in the process. After the third vote, a commissioner may either move to defer the selection until the next meeting or move to reopen nominations. If nominations are reopened, the nomination and voting procedure shall be repeated in their entirety.

This vote is only to select an acting chair to conduct the first part of the meeting. And then we'll go into a vote for the actual chair and actual vice chair. I'm starting with district one, commissioner Odell nominations.

I nominate commissioner event.

Commissioner meals. Nominate commissioner, Mark Billingsley dial commissioner Billingsley. Mr. Billingsley.

No new nominations.

Mr. Avent. No new nominations. Mr. Caswell.

No new nomination.

Mr. Brooks. Mr. Richardson.

No new nominations.

Mr. Streeter.

No new nominations.

Mr. Rudd. Pass. Mission of Clayville, no new nominations. Commissioner Sugarman.

No new nominations.

Commissioner, he would Garcia. No new nominations. Our nominees are a event Billingsley and Brooks. We will now start with the first round of voting. Commissioner Odell.

Commissioner event.

Commissioner meals.

Mr. Billingsley.

Commissioner Dow. Commissioner Billingsley. Commissioner Billingsley.

Billingsley.

Commissioner Avent. Avent. Commissioner Caswell. Avent. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Brooks.

Commissioner streeter. A vet. Commissioner rudd. Brooks. Mission can't play be it's a van. Mission sugar man. Commissioner Brooks. Mission here with Garcia. Commissioner even. I have six for Avent, three for Billingsley, and four for Brooks.

I would like to, Chairman?

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

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

Second round. Commissioner Brooks and Commissioner Avant. Commissioner O'Dell. Avant. Commissioner Mills.

Avant.

Commissioner Dow.

Avant.

Commissioner Billingsley.

Avant.

Commissioner Avant.

Avant.

Commissioner Caswell.

Avant.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Commissioner Avant.

Commissioner Streeter. Brooks. Commissioner Rudd. Brooks. Commissioner Clay Bibbs.

Avant.

Commissioner Sugarman. Brooks. Commissioner Hughes-Gosselin. Commissioner Avant. I have nine for Avent and four for Brooks. Commissioner Avent is our acting chair.

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

Let us pray. Lord, before we ask you for anything, we want to thank you for everything. We want to thank you for your grace. Thank you, Lord God, for your mercy. Today, Lord, we ask for your blessing upon all of Shelby County. We pray, Lord God, for every city, every community, every neighborhood, every family. Bless our children, schools, seniors, first responders, businesses, churches, and houses of worship. We ask, Lord God, that you will continue to watch over our new mayor, Mayor Mikael Lowry, grant him wisdom, courage, surround him with wise counsel, give him strength to serve. And Lord, we ask that you bless the relationship between our mayor and this commission, where they agree, give them wisdom to move forward, where they disagree, give them grace to listen. And Lord God, I thank you that as we lift before you each member of this commission, we pray for Shante Avant, Derrick Mills, Misca Clay Bibbs, Rhonda Odell, Marks Billingsley, Will Richardson, Henry Brooks, LaShonta Rudd, Charlie Caswell, Karen Streeter, Michelle Dial, Erica Sugarman, and Amber Hewitt Garcia. We pray for their families. We pray for their mental health. We pray for their strength, Lord. We pray for their courage. Give each of them wisdom for every decision and integrity and every responsibility. And Lord, as you know, it is my conviction that we can praise you in advance that many things we may not see you doing. But by faith, we know that the best is yet to come. lift up our hearts we lift up our voices and we tell you thank you for what you're doing what you have done and what you will do we rebuke every enemy in the name of jesus and we plead the blood of jesus where there's absolute victory we thank you for your presence that's filled filling this place now may your name and your presence be glorified and magnified and this is our prayer and The holy strong name of Jesus Christ in every heart said amen, amen, and amen. God bless you.

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

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

Appreciate it. Thank you. All right. Chaplain of the day. May I take a text now? Can I preach?

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

Yes, ma'am. Item two. comes from the General Government Committee with Acting Chair Commissioner Brooks. Item two is a resolution to approve and set the salary of the Chair of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for the 2026 through 2027 term, sponsored by Acting Chairwoman Chante K. Avant. Sign was amended and sent down without recommendation in September 9th, 2026 Committee Meeting.

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

This item was sent down without recommendation.

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

We have I vote from commissioners. Odell meals down Billingsley event. Caswell Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Road, Clay, Bibbs, Sugarman and Garcia. We have 13 I votes that motion passes.

Commentary and please read item three.

Item three comes from the General Government Committee, which is with Acting Chair Commissioner Brooks. Item three is a resolution electing Commissioner Blank to serve as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee until August 31st, 2027, sponsored by Acting Chairwoman Chante Avant, This item was sent down without recommendation in September 9th, 2026 committee meeting. Acting chair, once this item is properly before the body, I think maybe they might want me to read the summary of the procedure again. Yes, ma'am.

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

This item will sit down with our recommendation.

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

As it pertains to this item, which is to elect a commissioner service chair for this term, rule 35 of the permanent rules of order is as follows in pertinent part. The acting chair of the county commission shall request a roll call for nominations and each commissioner present shall have the opportunity to place into nomination one name. Today, we shall begin the nomination process with the Commissioner of District 2, which is Commissioner Mills, with the other Commissioners following in numerical order. The Acting Chair of the County Commission, however, shall make the last nomination. In each subsequent election, the roll call for nominations shall begin with the next numerical district on a chronological rotation basis for every election which shall be repeated when all district numbers have had an opportunity to make the initial nomination. Nominations may be taken from the floor. As it pertains to speeches, at the close of nominations, each nominee shall be entitled to a two-minute speech to be given by the candidate or his designee, his or her designee. As it pertains to voting, upon conclusion of the speeches, the acting chair shall request a roll call for selection and each commissioner present shall have the opportunity to select one nominee by name to fill the vacancy. The roll call vote shall be conducted in the same numerical sequence as the nomination process. The nominee selected to fill the vacancy shall receive a majority vote of the membership of the County Commission, which is at least seven votes. If no nominee receives a majority first vote, the County Commission shall hold subsequent votes, considering only those nominees as follows. After the first vote, only those nominees who receive two or more votes shall be eligible to continue in the process. After the second vote, only those nominees who receive the top two numerical votes shall be eligible to continue in the process. After the third vote, a commissioner may either move to defer the selection until the next meeting or move to reopen nominations. If nominations are reopened, the nomination and voting procedures shall be repeated in their entirety.

All right. I'm clerk commissioner meals.

Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

Commissioner Dow. Commissioner Mark Billingsley. Commissioner Billingsley.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Caswell.

Hey there.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Streeter.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Rudd. Pass. Commissioner Clay Bibbs. No new nominations. Commissioner Sugarman.

No new nominations.

Commissioner here, Garcia. No new nominations. Commissioner Odell.

No new nominations.

Chairwoman Avent.

No new nominations.

Our nominees are. Let's go back because there's a pass. Commissioner Rudd.

I nominate Commissioner Rudd.

Our nominees are Avent, Billingsley, Brooks, and Rudd. Round one. Commissioner Mills.

Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

Commissioner Dowd. Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

I'm sorry.

It's a speech before we go to the round one.

Yes, I'm sorry. I apologize.

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

Thank you. Colleagues, I respectfully ask for your vote to serve as chairman of your Shelby County Commission at a critical moment for our county. We have serious challenges and we need leadership that is willing to confront them honestly and bring this commission together around solutions. Our finance department demands immediate attention. We must restore fiscal responsibility and protect Shelby County's ability to make its own decisions. If we fail to act, we risk state intervention and decisions being made in Nashville instead of here. But our challenges go beyond the budget. Our trauma center needs attention. Our jail requires action. We need meaningful economic development that creates jobs, attracts investment, strengthens our tax base, and expands opportunities. And we must put the future of our children at the center of what we do. I know what it means to lead this body through a crisis. During COVID-19, I had the opportunity to chair this commission when the community faced unprecedented challenges. Our 13 commissioners came together, worked together, and put Shelby County first. I believe we need that same spirit of unity today. Leadership is not about titles or privileges. It is about listening, treating every commissioner fairly, building consensus and getting results. We are 13 equal commissioners and every vote deserves to be heard. Every voice deserves to be heard. As chairman, I will work with every member of this body. I will work with our mayor and our state and federal partners to pursue new revenue, new investment and new opportunities for Shelby County. Let me be clear, a federal dollar has no party affiliation. A state grant belongs to our citizens. Economic opportunity belongs to all of Shelby County. If you believe we can do better, If you want to restore financial responsibility, work across party lines, and bring this commission together, I respectfully ask for your vote. And let's move one Shelby County forward together. Thank you.

Commissioner Brooks was the next nominee.

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

It's two minutes.

Two minutes, okay. So, some of you have received a letter from me, everyone should have, but let me just try and keep it within that two minutes by going, summarizing the letter I sent to each of you to let you know that The reason I'm running is I'm in this race is because I'm not seeking a title, but I have been here in this body for 12 years, eight years consecutively, and then four additional years started in 2022. However, I've also served in the state legislature 14 years, and what has really concerned me, concerned me deeply as a state legislator, former state legislator, and a county commissioner, is that this office, this county commission office, has some critical issues that need to be addressed. Right now, our authority is being undercut by chronic tardiness, a casual disregard for our permanent rules of order, a breakdown in the professional respect required to work professionally with all commissioners. This is a legislative body, and it must be governed like one. Having served seven years in the legislature, having served 12 years here on this body, I know exactly what true decorum looks like. I've lived it. I've learned how a high-functioning legislative office and staff are supposed to operate. I have the qualified leadership and deep institutional knowledge and experience required to return this body to its true origin of trust, accountability, and transparency, and most above all, respect. Furthermore, I am the only commissioner with the time and the passion to dedicate to the rigorous daily work of this office. I am ready to treat this leadership role with a full time commitment he deserves. I'm asking for your vote and to restore the discipline of this body so we can deliver the results all of our constituents expect. Am I over my time limit? I can't keep time. Thank you. I do have some additional remarks because I'm not a one issue person, but I will respect my time limit. So thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you. Being the last on the list nominees, I just want to respectfully ask for your vote in consideration this year. We all know that each of us bring passion expertise and a commitment for Shelby County to move forward. I respectfully ask for your vote because I've had the opportunity, not only, and it's a privilege as well, to sit in this seat, understand the challenges we face as a body, but more importantly, how we can come together to make those changes in this body on behalf of Shelby County and working as a new administration. There are challenges that I'm sure each of you saw in past leadership. However, the thing that brings us to the most pivotal point is not only do we have big decisions before us, but the continuity needed to support you as new commissioners and create great dialogue and collaboration amongst those that are returning to this body. It is important that regardless of who sits in this seat, we make a commitment after this vote to move forward as one body. Regardless of who wins the vote, that is not the most important piece. The most important piece is that we're then taking an opportunity to be unified on behalf of Shelby County. I appreciate mayor Lowry being here today. I think he has also shown that he wants to work with this individual body. I would hope to sit in this seat and to support you in our leadership and moving forward with mayor Lowry as well as the administration. Thank you so much for your consideration and your time.

Okay, we will now start with round one commissioner meals.

Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

Commissioner Dow. Commissioner Billingsley. Commissioner Billingsley.

Billingsley.

Commissioner Caswell.

Avent.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Commissioner Avent.

Commissioner Streeter. Commissioner Avent. Commissioner Rudd. Rudd. Commissioner Clay Bibbs. Commissioner Avant. Commissioner Sugarman.

Commissioner Brooks.

Commissioner Huey Garcia. Commissioner Avant. Commissioner O'Dell. Commissioner Mark Billingsley. Chairwoman Avant. I have four for Billingsley, six for Avent, two for Brooks, and one for Rudd.

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

Yes, ma'am. In round two. Only those with two or more votes shall be eligible to continue in the process.

So I would say only one.

So that will be Billingsley, Avant, and Brooks.

Commissioner Mills?

Commissioner Mark Billingsley?

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

Point of personal privilege. At this time, I'd like to make a statement, if I could, before my vote. Or do I need to?

No.

It's a point of personal privilege, but we can go ahead. I can make it at the end.

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

Commissioner Mark Billingsley commissioner down commissioner Billingsley commissioner Billingsley Billingsley commissioner Caswell. Hey there commissioner Brooks, commissioner Brooks, commissioner Richardson, commissioner event. Commissioner Streeter.

Commissioner Avent.

Commissioner Rudd.

Rudd.

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

Thank you. You're welcome. Commissioner Claiborne. Commissioner Avent. Commissioner Sugarman.

Commissioner Brooks.

Commissioner Hugo Garcia.

Commissioner Avent.

Mission O'Dell.

Billingsley.

Chairwoman Avant.

Avant.

I have four for Billingsley and six for Avant, two for Brooks. I'm sorry, three for Brooks.

Um, in this next round, only those who received the top two numerical votes, uh, shall be eligible to continue in the process.

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

Commissioner meals, commissioner, Mark Billingsley, commissioner Dow, commissioner Billingsley, commissioner Billingsley, Billingsley, commissioner Caswell, AVA. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Avent.

Commissioner Streeter. Avent. Commissioner Rudd. Avent. Commissioner Klaviyas. Avent. Commissioner Sugarman.

A that.

Commissioner, you've got to commissioner event. There's no deal.

Belling sling.

Chairwoman event event. Go back to the one that can please commissioner Brooks. I have four for Billingsley and nine for Avent.

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

item four comes from the general government committee which is chaired by commissioner brooks or acting chair commissioner brooks item four is a resolution electing commissioner blank to serve as chair pro tempore of the board of county commissioners of shelby county tennessee until august 31st 2027 sponsored by chairwoman shantae k avant this item was sent down without recommendation in september 9 2026 committee meeting

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

This item was sent down without recommendation.

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

Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

Commissioner Billingsley.

Billingsley.

Commissioner Caswell.

Commissioner Brooks.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Streeter.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Rudd. No new nomination. Commissioner Clay Bibbs.

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

Commissioner Shigelman.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Huey Garcia. No new nominations. Commissioner O'Dell. No new nominations. Commissioner Mills.

No new nominations.

Chairwoman Avent.

No new nominations.

Our nominees are Billingsley and Brooks. Round one. Commissioner Dow. Billingsley. I'm sorry, do we want to do speeches? I keep skipping over speeches.

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

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

Thank you. Let me just say, first of all, congratulations to Commissioner Event on her reelection. Let me say to this body that I am very happy to have an opportunity to participate in the leadership of this body. Having served as a public policy maker and a statesperson for so many years, I look forward to sharing information, sharing experience, and being a resource. I'm looking forward, in addition to that, serving as a backup, if you will, for the chair, continuing some of the projects that are deeply, deeply important to me as a commissioner and Shelby County, and District 7. The rebuild of Regional 1, the reform of payment in lieu of taxes, and increasing community engagement on all development investments and projects in communities and neighborhoods. Additionally, additionally, I look forward to being able to start taxing assessment districts so that communities who have been historically left behind, ignored, and neglected will be able to have funding for the infrastructure needs that they deem important in their communities. So with that, I will ask for your consideration, I will ask for your vote, and thank you very much for the nomination.

Commissioner down. Commissioner Billingsley. Commissioner Billingsley.

Billingsley.

Commissioner Caswell.

Brooks.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Brooks.

Commissioner Streeter.

Brooks.

Commissioner Rudd. Brooks. Commissioner Clay Bibbs. Brooks. Commissioner Sugarman.

Brooks.

Commissioner Huey Garcia.

Commissioner Brooks.

Commissioner O'Dell. Billingsley. Commissioner Mills.

Billingsley.

Chairwoman Avian. Commissioner Brooks. I have four for Billingsley and nine for Brooks.

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

Members of the public who desire to address the County Commission shall request permission by completing an Appearance Card, which will be given to the Chair by a Deputy. Members of the public shall be permitted to address the County Commission unless ruled out of order by the Chair or denied the opportunity to speak by a majority vote of the Commissioners present and voting. Please note that as it pertains to public comment, our Rules of Order set a limit of no longer than three minutes when recognized by the Chair. The Chair may set a limit for discussion by the public of less than three minutes for each individual if circumstances require. Finally, to the members of the public, if you would like to express your pleasure or displeasure on a matter before the County Commission, please do so by raising your thumb up or pointing it down as opposed to applause or other expressions of approval or disapproval. Disruptive members of the public are subject to removal from the Commission Chambers by the Deputy Sheriff. Thank you for your attention and in advance for your cooperation today.

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

Thank you and good afternoon. My name is Lucy Chambliss. My mom spelled it wrong, so I don't take any offense. Zip code is 38104. I'm joined tonight, this afternoon, by the family of Tyron Johnson. If you guys want to stand. I've got his mom, his aunts, cousins, and his son here with me. You all probably are familiar with the name Tyron Johnson. He's the young man that was shot and killed by the National Guard this summer. Last year when the Guard was first deployed, the previous administration filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the deployment. Of course, you know that the lawsuit was dismissed on the grounds that the previous mayor didn't have legal right to sue, that there weren't injuries that could be proven. I think we can prove injuries now. We know that that lawsuit may have gone forward had this body voted to support the mayor in his quest to get the National Guard off of our streets. I place a lot of blame on a lot of people for Tyron Johnson's death, starting with the piece of, sorry, allergies, with the president, and then with the governor. I put a lot of blame on Mayor Young. You guys might be familiar with that. But this body had a responsibility to stand up for your constituents as well. And you didn't do that earlier this year. Tyron Johnson could still be here. This family might not be here looking at you tonight. His son could be growing up with his father had you chosen to just support the mayor in that quest. I hope that our new mayor will pick the cause back up, and I hope that this board would support him. Tyron wasn't a criminal, never been convicted of a crime, which is something that I can't say for recent members of this body. He'd never even been charged with a crime, which is something that I can't say for myself or for current members of this body. This was by all stretch of the imagination a good young man, the father of a little boy who's going to have to grow up without his... And I just ask that you take that into consideration. CJ Davis, our police chief, has said that the National Guard isn't even a multiplying factor in this task force, that they haven't done anything to lower our crime rates. So all they've done is kill one of our neighbors. And I just ask respectfully that you will consider that and that you will see that we have been injured, that this county has been injured, that this family has been injured, and this little baby boy has been injured. And that you'll pick this lawsuit back up and try to get these people out of our city. Thank you.

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

Christine Fox, 38112. Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Christine Fox. I'm a faith leader with MICA and a 30-year Memphis resident. I'm here today to urge this commission to sign on to the lawsuit demanding that the National Guard be withdrawn from Memphis. since january of this year four people have been killed by the memphis unsafe task force darren pegram may 13th killed by dea agents at a burger king where he worked jonah neal may 20th killed by a homeland security agent while he was having a mental health crisis tyron johnson july 5th shot in the back and killed by national guard troops in downtown memphis Alfonso Ivey, July 8th, killed by DEA agents at an East Memphis hotel. Had this body passed the motion that came before you at the June 29th County Commission meeting, approving the appointment of outside counsel to review potential litigation opposing the deployment of the National Guard in Shelby County, Tyron Johnson might be alive today. We can't know this for certain, but what we can know for certain is that in the early morning hours of July 5th, Tyron Johnson was killed by a member of the National Guard. What we can know for certain is this, that Tyron Johnson should be alive today. Alphonso Ivey should be alive today. Jonah Neal should be alive today. And Darren Pegram should be alive today. We do not want to come back before this body with another list of names, another list of sons, brothers, fathers, and friends who should be here with us but are not because this body failed to act. you have another chance to take action. You have an opportunity to say, Memphis does not need military personnel in our streets. What we need is answers. We need accountability. We need safeguards. Today I am asking this commission a simple question. How many more people have to die before we acknowledge that militarizing public safety is not the answer to our problems? Memphis does have serious problems. We have violence, poverty, and housing insecurity. We have neighborhoods that have experienced generations of exploitation and disenfranchisement. But these are not military problems. And Memphis has a painful history of racialized policing and the use of state power against black communities. And we cannot ignore that history when the overwhelming majority of hyper-aggressive policing and enforcement continues to fall on black Memphians. Four people have been killed by the unsafe task force since January. That's not a statistic. That is families grieving. That is communities in mourning. Those are lives that cannot be restored. Commissioners, you have an opportunity now to act where you did not act before. Please sign on to the lawsuit seeking the withdrawal of the National Guard from Memphis. Do it because civilian communities should not be places where military force is normalized. Do it because constitutional rights do not disappear when politicians invoke public safety.

Thank you.

Our faith traditions call us to seek justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly. Today, justice requires action. Thank you.

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

Yes, ma'am item 5 is a resolution honoring the 3rd, Friday of September as. Mia, Recognition Day. MIA, sorry. Recognition Day in Shelby County, Tennessee, sponsored by Commissioner Rhonda Odell and Commissioner Will Richardson.

Chair Avant, Commissioners, members of our audience, the most important people here. When you walked in on this side of the building, when you walked up the stairs, You saw a table, it's called the missing man table, and we'll talk about that a little bit later. So, whereas it is appropriate for this esteemed Board of Commissioners to honor and recognize distinguished individuals whose tireless efforts and wavering dedication has made a significant and lasting impact on the lives of other Shelby County, Tennessee residents. The United States has fought in numerous wars and conflicts throughout its history, and thousands of brave service members who served our nation have been captured as prisoners of war or remain missing in action. These dedicated men and women endure unimaginable hardships, sufferings, and uncertainty while fearlessly serving our country. Their families were left to live with profound ambiguity, heartbreak, and grief regarding the fate of their loved ones. I'm sorry, I'm very emotional about this.

Commissioner, go ahead.

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

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

Good evening everyone. My name is KPL Eugene.

I served 26 years in the United States Marine Corps. I retired as a captain, but it was my pleasure to serve for our country. As you walked in, there's a single rose on our MI table and a vase. And that is a reminder that the lives of each of the missing and their loved ones who keep the faith still waiting for answers. A red ribbon tied around the vase, our continued determination to account for the missing. A lemon slice at each bread plate is to remind us the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land. A pinch of salt recalls the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers. The Bible represents the strength gained from faith to sustain the loss from our country, which was founded as one nation under God. An inverted glass symbolized the inability to share in the day's toast. The chair at each place empty to express their absence. It is always someone who is a non-partisan who really believes in our great democracy that one day each and every man who was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we bring them home. Thank you guys and God bless.

Thank you.

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

Commissioner Brooks item number six, please.

Commissioner Richardson item number 14.

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

Yes, ma'am. Item seven comes from the Budget and Finance Committee, which is chaired by Chairwoman Avant. Item seven is a resolution approving vendor contracts for consulting services related to the trustees tax collection system for project management services with mergers, acquisitions, divestiture, PLLC, in an amount not to exceed $277,500, and FinHealth LLC in an amount not to exceed $91,200. Both contracts will commence upon execution and continue through June 30, 2027, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods. The Mergers Acquisitions Investors PLLC contract will be expended against the Capital Improvement Program, CIP Funds, and fin health llc will be expended against trustee general fund these items require the expenditure of cip funds in a total amount not to exceed two hundred seventy seven thousand five hundred dollars and trustee general fund in a total amount not to exceed ninety one thousand two hundred dollars sponsored by chairwoman jante k avant commissioner henry brooks and commissioner erica sugarman item eight comes from the law enforcement corrections and courts committee with commissioner sugarman as acting chair Item 8 is a resolution approving a contract between Shelby County Government and Landmark Construction and Emergency Services for two contract welders for 12 weeks for the main jail located at 201 Poplar and Jail East located at 6201 Haley Road on behalf of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in the amount not to exceed $117,120. This item requires the expenditure of fiscal year 2027 Shelby County Sheriff's Office general funds in the amount not to exceed $117,120 sponsored by Commissioner Erica Sugarman. Item 9 comes from the Community Services Committee with Commissioner Caswell's acting chair. Item 9 is a resolution authorizing the execution of an intellectual property transfer agreement between Shelby County Government and Kefani Kids Charitable Organization for the transfer of the Shelby County A to Z project, sponsored by Commissioner Charlie A. Caswell, Jr. Items 10 and 11 come from the General Government Committee, which is chaired by Vice Chairwoman Commissioner Brooks. Item 10 is a resolution approving the election of Norris Public for appointment and a reappointment for Shelby County, Tennessee, sponsored by Commissioner Henry E. Brooks. Item 11 is a resolution receiving and filing the oath of office for officials of Shelby County, Tennessee, elected on August 6, 2026, sponsored by Chairwoman Shanteke Avant. ITEMS 12 AND 13 COME FROM THE CORE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WITH VICE CHAIRWOMAN BROOKS AS ACTING CHAIR. ITEM 12 IS A RESOLUTION FINING THAT 29 PROPERTIES SCHEDULED FOR TAX DEAL NUMBER 2301 COMMENCING OCTOBER 27, 2026 POSE AN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND OR HAVE FINANCIAL LIABILITIES SO AS TO ALLOW THE COUNTY COMMISSION PURSUANT TO TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 67-5-2501A2 to advise the Clerk of the Chancery Court to not bid on such properties on behalf of Shelby County Government, sponsored by Vice Chair Henry E. Brooks. Item 13 is a resolution approving the sale of 40 county-owned delinquent tax parcels acquired by Shelby County from various Shelby County tax sales to identified purchasers at various prices collectively totaling $187,647.50 pursuant to Tenancy Code Annotated Section 67-5-2507 and authorizing the Shelby County Mayor to execute the claim deed. Sponsored by Commissioner, excuse me, by Vice Chair Henry E. Brooks.

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

We have I votes from commissioners Odell meals. Dow, Billingsley, Avant, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Rudd, Clay Bibbs, and Sugarman. We have 12 aye votes.

Sorry, Commissioner Hewitt-Garcia, are you aye?

Yes, aye. Please have me.

Correction.

We have aye votes from Commissioners O'Dell, Mills, Dow, Billingsley, Avant, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Rudd, Clay Bibbs, Sugarman, and Hewitt-Garcia. We have 13 aye votes.

That motion passes. Commentarian, please read item six.

Item six. comes from the Budget and Finance Committee, which is chaired by Chairwoman Avant. Item 6 is a resolution approving contract for banking services with Regions Bank for custody and deposit of county funds for the period upon execution through June 30, 2027, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods in an annual amount not to exceed $400,000. The county will fund the annual contract amount with compensating balance on deposit with Regions Bank. Sponsored by Chairwoman Shanteke Avant, Commissioner Henry E. Brooks, and Commissioner Erica Sugarman.

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

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

Trustee Lee?

Thank you, Commissioner, Chairman and Commissioners, Joseph Lee, Shelby County Trustee. I am joined today by Blake Elliott, the Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking. We did submit responses from the committee meeting And Mr. Elliott is here today to further expound on some of the accomplishments and some of the services extended across Shelby County through Regions Bank. Before he speaks, I do want to say that the county has enjoyed the services of regions now for well over 20 years and the two respondents to the recent RAFP, there was very substantial differences between the first place and second place respondent and we highly recommend approval of Regions Bank. Thank you.

Please state your name for the record.

Sure. Blake Elliott, Senior Vice President of Regions Bank. I lead our commercial banking office here in Memphis. Glad to be with you again today. After our committee meeting last week, we were asked some questions to follow up on. Our team did put together a response to those questions in terms of region's commitment to the community, our investments in small business, our investments through everything from small business administration, guaranteed lending, volunteer hours by our associates, things like that. Is there anything specific you'd like for me to address?

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

Okay. I'll be glad to talk about the things that we have already done and also would point you to Region CRA rating, which is a satisfactory rating and has been for many years in this community. This Community Reinvestment Act looks at an investment test by our institution in the local community. It looks at volunteer service hours. It also looks at a lending test. That lending test focuses primarily on affordable housing in low to moderate income areas as well as small business lending. And Regions has had a satisfactory exam in each of those areas and an overall satisfactory exam. So that would be kind of the background of what we've done. and what we continue to do as an institution in this market. We do have a branch presence. We have the largest branch presence across the county of any bank in this market at all, serving every neighborhood and every corner of Shelby County. Our associates do perform volunteer service hours through a number of organizations. We provide charitable contributions as well to organizations like Junior Achievement and many others. We're active.

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

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

Oh, I'm sorry.

He took up my time.

I didn't mean to.

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

I sent it to the trustee's office on Friday, and they were trying to get that out to you all. Mr.

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

Yes, Commissioner Bush, we sent it to all of the commissioners by email.

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

Madam clerk, please report the vote.

We have I votes from commissioners, Odell meals. Dial feelings, Lee, event, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, run, play, be of sugar man and we have 13 items that motion passes.

Please read item 14 item 14.

comes from the Core City Neighborhoods and Housing Committee with Vice Chair Brooks as acting chair. Item 14 is a resolution approving the conveyance of 246 county-owned delinquent tax parcels acquired from various Shelby County tax sales to the City of Memphis for nominal consideration for use and benefit of its Hyde Park development project and authorizing the Shelby County Mayor to execute reclaimed deeds. Sponsored by Commissioner Henry E. Brooks.

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

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

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

We have I votes from commissioners Odell, Mills, Dial, Billingsley, Avent, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Rudd, Clay Bibbs, Sugarman, and Hood-Garcia. We have 13 I votes. That motion passes.

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

item 15 comes from the general government committee with commission with vice chair brooks as acting chair item 15 is a resolution appointing blank to serve as judge for the shelby county general session civil court division 6 filling the vacancy created by the election of the honorable judge lonnie thompson to the chance record effective september fourteenth twenty twenty six until a successor is elected and qualified at the august twenty twenty eight countywide general election sponsored by chairwoman shantay k event that was sent down without recommendation in september nine twenty twenty six committee meeting i have a motion by commissioner sugar man second by commissioner richardson commissioner brooks could have a committee report

This item was sent down without recommendation.

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

Commissioner, I nominate Martin.

Commissioner Caswell. I'm sorry, I wasn't looking. Commissioner Brooks.

Judge Pollard.

Pollard. Commissioner Richardson.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Streeter.

No new nominations.

Commissioner Rudd. Marcy Ingram. Commissioner Clay Bibbs. No new nominations. Commissioner Sugarman.

No new nominations.

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

Townsend. T-O-W-N-S-E-N-D. Townsend.

Commissioner O'Dell. John Cameron. Mr. Mills.

John Cameron.

Mission are down. No new nomination. But the mission can as well.

No new nomination.

No new nominations. So our nominees are Cameron. Pollard. Ingram, Townsend, Townsend, Townsend, Townsend, thank you, I'm sorry, and Zumach.

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

Yes, ma'am. Cameron, Pollard, Ingram, Townsend, and Zumach.

All right.

Commissioner Bensley.

Do I?

Commissioner Caswell.

Ingram.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Pollard.

Commissioner Streeter.

Pollard.

Commissioner Rudd. Ingram. Mr. Clay, Bill Pollard, Mr. Sugarman, Ingram, Mr. Hugh Garcia, Townsend, Commissioner Odell, John Cameron, Mr. Mills, John Cameron, Commissioner Dow. Ingram. Chairwoman Avent.

Pollard.

I have two for Cameron, four for Ingram, five for Pollard, one for Townsend, and one for Zumop.

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

Commissioner Billingsley?

John Cameron.

Sorry. Commissioner Caswell. Ingram. Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson.

Pollard.

Commissioner Streeter. Ingram. Mission run. Ingram. Mission play be a collar. Mission sugar man.

Ingram.

Mission who Garcia John Cameron. Mission or Dale. John Cameron. Commissioner Mills.

John Cameron.

Commissioner Dow. Ingram. Chairwoman Avent. I have four, four for Cameron, five for Ingram, and four for Pollard. Four for Pollard. Four for Cameron. Five for Ingram.

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

Commissioner Billingsley.

John Cameron.

Commissioner Caswell.

Ingram.

Commissioner Brooks. Commissioner Richardson?

Pollard.

Commissioner Streeter?

Pollard.

Commissioner Rudd? Ingram. Commissioner Clay Bidds? Pollard. Commissioner Sugarman?

Ingram.

Commissioner Hugo Garcia? Cameron. Mission all down.

Ingram.

Mission meals, John Cameron. Commissioner down. Ingram. I want my event.

Pollock.

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

Commissioner Billingsley.

Marcy Ingram.

Caswell.

Ingram.

Brooks. Richardson.

Pollard.

Streeter.

Ingram.

Rudd. Ingram. Clay Bibbs. Pollard. Sugarman.

Ingram.

Who are Garcia? Pollard. Odell. Ingram. Mills.

Ingram.

Dial. Ingram. The woman event. Pollard. I have eight for Ingram and five for Pollard.

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

Good afternoon. I just wanted to thank the commission for giving me this opportunity to, again, represent and work with the committee. Sorry, I'm nervous. To serve, the magic word is serve the community in this capacity. One of the things that I love the most about being a judge is doing mock trials with the kids from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. I will be happy to come to any school in your district. If you will shoot me an email, I will come and speak and present with them. And again, thank you for this opportunity.

Congratulations, Ms. Ingram. All right.

we will now move parliamentarian to item 16. item 16 comes from the budget and finance committee which is chaired by With Chairwoman Aban. Wow, I'm getting so mixed up today. Thank you. Item 16 is a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2027 operating budget to expend special revenue funds in the amount of $15,000 from proceeds of revenue generated from sexual offender fees. This item requires the appropriation and expenditure of fiscal year 2027 special revenue funds in the amount of $15,000 sponsored by Commissioner Erica Sugarman and Commissioner Rhonda Odell. This item was substituted in September 9th, 2026 committee meeting.

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

We have I votes from Commissioners Odell, Mills, Dow, Billingsley, Avent, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Rudd, Klabe, Bibbs, Shookerman, Ingram, Garcia. We have 13 I votes.

That motion passes. Parliamentarian, please read item 17.

Item 17 comes from the Budget and Finance Committee, which is chaired by Chairwoman Avant. Item 17 is a resolution to amend the FY27 budget to appropriate an amount not to exceed $6,134,386.81. in County Clerk's Special Revenue Funds for the stabilization, modernization, and operational improvement of the Shelby County Clerk's Office, excluding County Clerk Electronic Data Processing Fund 10010-250201, and for related purposes, sponsored by Commissioner Ashante K. Avant and Commissioner Charlie A. Caswell Jr., deciding it was an add-on and amended in the September 9, 2026 committee meeting.

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

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

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

We have aye votes from Commissioners Odell, Mills, Dial, Billingsley, Avant, Caswell, Brooks, Richardson, Streeter, Rudd, Clay Bibbs, Sugarman, and Huynh Garcia. We have 13 aye votes.

That motion passes. Parliamentarian, please read item 18.

Item 18 comes from the Law Enforcement Corrections and Courts Committee with Commissioner Sugarman as acting chair. Item 18 is a resolution to approve a contract between Shelby County Government and Wexford Health Sources Inc. for the provision of health care services to inmates and detainees for the Shelby County Jail, Jail, Shelby County Division of Corrections, SCDC, and the Youth Education and Justice Center, YJEC, in an annual amount not to exceed $37,982,899 to be prorated for the initial contract term from October 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027, and with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods. This item requires the expenditure of FY27 county general funds in an amount not to exceed $18,936,182.25 for services to be provided to all jail and YJEC facilities and FY27 enterprise funds in an annual amount not to exceed $9,550,992, sponsored by Chairwoman Shante K. Avant and Commissioner Erica Sugarman.

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

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

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Josh Spickler, 38103 is my work address. If you've been on this body, you're familiar with this exercise that you're about to hear, and that is the names of all 68 people who died in the Shelby County Jail since 2018. Many of them, many of them should have lived. Many of them were denied the kind of healthcare that you and I have access to immediately when we need it. And so this choice, this vote that you're making is critical. So I hope you'll hear these names and hear along with them the families and the life and the promise that each of them had. Denny Fugat, Desmond Shipp, Donald Jones, George DeClew, Gershon Freeman, James Owens, James Wilkes, Jeffrey Farrell, Jerome Given, Jerome Mimes, Jonathan Aguiano, Joseph Johnson, Justin Brewer, Justin Lee Segerson, Kenneth Melton, Kevin Wright, Kimberly Clark, Christopher Miller, Lamont Cummings, Larry Gilliam, Lawrence Sumlin Leodre Isabel.

Laramie Wheeler.

Hello, commissioners. My name is Laramie Wheeler. I'm the communications and advocacy manager at Just City. My zip code is 38103. I'm here to read more of the names of the people we've lost in the Shelby County Jail. And in your first two weeks of being commissioners, you are experiencing your first jail death. And I hope that you will, feels odd to say, but I hope that you will take it in and that you will pay attention and that we can get a commitment from you in some way that you also do not want this to happen again and that you will not let it. Marcus Donald, Malcolm Ford, Marcel Hutton, Martin Perez Estrada, Michael McCabe, Nicholas Dancy, Raymond McGee, Richard Higgs, Richard Willingham, Robert Turner, Raquez McDaniel, Roy Dunbar, Sam Carr, Santrez Traylor, Sherman Weakley, Stanley Campbell, Stephen Gomez, Tiffany Dukes, Tiffany Black, Tommy Young, Tracy Gill. I actually just recently found out that a friend of mine is actually the godfather to Tracy Gill's children. Wesley Joyner, William Trentham. Thank you.

Dr. William Arnold, Jr.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and esteemed body. Before I start, I want to give you some numbers. 95. 95% of the people, roughly 60,000 people who are incarcerated in Tennessee are going to come home. They don't all have a death sentence or life in prison or jail. One in three. One in three Tennesseans is justice involved. That means they've been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime. One in two. One in two Tennesseans has a family member or a loved one who is justice involved. When a person enters a criminal justice system, their first point is jail. They are innocent until proven guilty. Jail should not be a death sentence. So as you enter into this roughly $38 million contract, think about what has happened over the last eight years. 68 people have died. Our new sheriff was sworn in last Monday like many of you. In one week, Saturday night, we had a person die. At that rate, if he serves a full term, one a week, it's 208 people. If he serves two terms, that's 416 people. That's one a week. Mr. Alex Winrich, Mr. Antonio Davis, Mr. Antonio First, Mr. Antonio Golden, Mr. Avon Rollins, Mr. Bobby Sellers, Mr. Carl Ewing, Mr. Charles Johnson, Mr. Christopher Pettis, Mr. Christopher Steele, Mr. Clintus Strong, Mr. Coltrol Poindexter, Mr. Courtney Berry, Mr. Corey Jackson, Mr. Dalton Goddard, Mr. Daniel Neal, Mr. Darien Nolan, Mr. Darren Crawford, Mr. Darrell Tyrone Young, Mr. Dion Byrd, Mr. Demarcus Jarrett, Mr. Damarian Walker. And if you're not familiar, Ms. elizabeth turnage age 24 excuse me age 43 who was booked into the shelby county jail on august 24th at 2 30 a.m died saturday night she was charged with vandalism of less than one thousand dollars thank you mr arnold you could just say your name and zip code for the record i'm sorry uh dr william arnold 38107 thank you commissioner caswell

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

Yes, sir. We have two representatives from Wexford Health.

Okay. If they can just come up. And I just say, I know you all just heard the names of our neighbors and our family and friends that was just spoken of who died in that jail. And we know it's a tough task ahead. I know I had spent some time with the sheriff to talk about some of the deaths that happening at jail many of these people are sick before they even enter into our jail so making sure and i know i don't know if you all had opportunity to listen to all the questions that were asked and committed but i ask that y'all have a chance to go back and listen to to the uh to those questions uh that we could be get ahead of this thing you know like he said it already have started right now with this new administration in there and i and i just say the chairwoman that as we work with the mayoral we found some way of our ad hoc so that we can hold accountable before we get out of hand with some of what we're doing one of the things that was asked of you all of the of of the director was an audit of some of those deaths that happened I think it's important for us to put that in concept and to a way that the public understand that what we're dealing with is public health issues many times from a community perspective, mental health issues before they even get to the jail. And so what we need to be doing, and we don't know this if we don't get that data and information from you all when they come through that cellar, through the justice system. So that's why I just asked of you all to take into account the questions that were asked. Some good questions was asked of you all to hold some accountability for this contract that we're about to enter into. I know the votes are there for it, and I can support because I know we got to have something day one, October the 1st, to be able to take care of our... residents both at 201 and our youth center. So I really don't have a question, but to ask that y'all go back, take some time to listen to those questions, send those answers to all the commissioners, if you can, director, that we can get those answers on what we're going to be doing different than what was done in the past. If y'all have something to add to that, I would appreciate it.

Thank you for us being here today. My name is Alexis Walker. I'm a regional jail manager for Wexford, and I will be boots on the ground here. My background is I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner. So I am very in tune to mental health needs for the area. All those that have died in the past in the jail incarceration, my sincere condolences to any family members that may be represented. No death should occur in jail.

Thank you, ma'am.

But sometimes that happens. And unfortunately...

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

My name is Shannis Stock-Jones.

I'm the Corporate Vice President for Wexford Health. As was previously stated, I know Commissioner Richardson asked that question about ratios. In the corrections setting, we do not operate based on ratios. but the standards that are set by NCCHC. And so what that ensures is that we get certain services completed in a certain timeframe. Should we not be able to do that with the staff that we have, then we would reevaluate. So for example, I know Ms. Palmer talked about H&Ps. Those are critical because that's when patients come through the door. Okay, so you get a full medical review in the jails, it's the first 14 days. sooner if you can, but no later than 14 days. In the prisons and the youth setting, it's seven days. So I do not know the circumstances of that young lady, but when she came in, there should have been a health assessment done. I believe it was late August. Maybe there was still time, 14 days, I'm not sure. But we would have done that assessment to include a mental health assessment to get a feel for the services that she would need. So again, there's no staff ratios. Also with NCCHC, So what we put in place to minimize deaths and litigation is quality assurance and improvement. The thing that I hear that is really unique in Shelby County, it is unique to have leadership. Director Alexander talked about his affiliation with the National Institute of Corrections. Ms. Palmer, to have a contract compliance unit is unique. the director said we will not hand over accountability and ownership that remains with the county we we feel like we are experts we hold ourselves accountable we have our quality unit but to have a unit within shelby county makes you unique very unique thank you commissioner huey garcia

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

For the health assessment and physical, yes. That is 14 days in the jail setting. Okay. It is seven days for that task to be completed in the prison and youth centers. And I think this is.

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

I believe it's 10 days.

10 days is considered timely.

10 days for us to get a response back to, yes, I believe that is the expectation.

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

good afternoon uh commissioners latasha palmer division of corrections so um and we discussed exhibit e um on on the 9th so there is a penalty for non-compliance and non-compliance means anything less than 90 per audit Our oversight, our compliance unit conducts 18 audits per month. It ranges from mental health, performance and services to your history and physical, your sick calls, your grievances, etc. And non-compliance with those audits yields anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 per audit per month.

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

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

Commissioner Mills.

Thank you. To our folks here from Wexford, as you know, we've got four separate facilities here. We've got the 201 Poplar, that's 3,000 inmates fresh off the streets. We've got Juvenile Court, all of our adolescents. We've got Jail East, which is our female inmates who are fresh off the streets. And then you've got the Corrections Center for more seasoned inmates. I hope you all have preparations to handle that very specific and different groups that you're going to be facing in all four of these facilities. And also I would recommend, I know you're going to be retaining a lot of the well path people who are here on the ground. I'm sure you're going to offer them a position. If you would, please check with management at these four facilities to see if that employee was actually a good employee and good for Shelby County because not everybody that is working there is the greatest. So make sure you check with management to say, hey, is this person going to be good going in the future? Thank you.

Commissioner, I just again, Shanna Stock Jones with Wexford. I just want to confirm for you that that has already been completed. We have spoken with management. The number one indicator of a successful transition is staff retention. So we have already initiated those efforts.

Commissioner Clay Bibbs.

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

Anthony Alexander, Director of Corrections. Commissioner, part of the reason we're seeing the increase in costs is the ADP has risen since the Safe Streets Task Force at all facilities, but most importantly is the Intermediate Medical Care Unit that we're adding. That's something that we have not experienced here in Shelby County. This is for individuals returning from the hospital who cannot be placed immediately back in general population. These individuals will be placed in a housing unit that has hospital beds, direct nursing staff to care for them for wound care, IV, oxygen, CPAP machines, things of that nature.

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

Commissioner Streeter.

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

Understood. We'll do that.

Thank you so much.

Yes, ma'am.

Commissioner Richardson.

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

Sure. I think first and foremost, like I previously said, it's the retention.

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

Sure, Shanice Stock-Jones with Wexford Health Sources. Like I said previously, the number one indicator of a successful transition to ensure there's no disruption in services is the retention of current staff. And again, we did speak with management, with any staff that they may not want to retain, and we will handle that. In terms of doing things differently, I have heard sort of repeatedly that I know to you it feels like haste. but to us it does not. Once we received the contingent award, we started working towards understanding this community and the facilities that we will be responsible for. We have a dedicated transition team that has already been working with SCDC to make sure that we understand the lay of the land, we have a plan for boots on the ground september 30th we will have representative of representatives of wexford inside each of the locations so that at midnight when it flips over if there are any questions and concern we can handle that proactively In terms of care, we understand the staffing levels that currently exist. The Jail East looks pretty good. The youth facility looks pretty good. The correctional center looks pretty good. And I understand, just like many of you mentioned the other day, it's 201 where we need to focus. So we will be prepared that if there are any coverage needs at that facility, we will be prepared for that.

Thank you.

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

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

Anthony Alexander, Director of Corrections. Commissioner, on a monthly basis, we have an MSRT meeting, compliance meeting, with all of our stakeholders, the sheriff, GLEs, Youth Justice and Education Center. There's representatives from each one of those agencies, and so they review those audit reports from the healthcare compliance team, and it's then filed. If there's any penalties that have to be imposed, then they come to my desk for signature.

Okay, so what we need to get in order for us to be informed since we're making this decision about these hundreds of thousands of dollars, well, I need to know that I may pass a great vote. So I need to make sure that they're in compliance with all of these components. and one that I'm really focusing in on is this youth mental health, because I went to a summit, I had a number of children, two or three hundred children were there, and they were talking about they need to be heard, they're not being heard, they don't have a place to go and talk. So I know you have your complement of children who, weren't heard and subsequently had some behavioral issues. So I need to see those reports in writing. Is there a way or is it in this contract that you will send a report to, what would it be, law enforcement every three months?

Anthony Alexander, Director of Corrections. Commissioner, in the committee meeting, I believe we agreed to provide you all quarterly reports from the MSRT meeting. So we are committed to doing that.

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

Thank you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

shanna stock jones wexford health i looked into that this morning my understanding is that at the correctional center please take my approximate when i say this i would say um so i know there was a question uh that mr russell answered on wednesday that the entire fte of this contract now is about 213. there's about a hundred um allocated to 201 THERE ARE ABOUT 30 OR SO THERE THAT ARE VACANT. I UNDERSTAND JAIL EAST, THE FEMALE IS FULL. I UNDERSTAND THE JUVENILE IS FULL. AND AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER, THERE ARE ABOUT 10 CURRENT VACANCIES. AND THAT ALLOCATION, I BELIEVE, IS ABOUT 75 FTE.

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

Latasha Palmer, healthcare compliance administrator. Typically the LPN role is the one that is more difficult to fill. But what I will say as far as those vacant positions, unfilled positions don't yield uncovered shifts. So the shifts are still being covered by utilizing part-time or PRN, which are as needed employees and agency.

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

Madam Clerk, please report the vote.

We have I votes from commissioners Odell meals dial event Caswell Brooks Richardson Streeter road sugar man who and he would Garcia commissioner Billingsley has recused. We have 11 eyes and one with you.

That motion passes.

Thank you commissioners.

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

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

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

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