The DeKalb County Commission’s Jail Committee held an open meeting last Monday night, inviting the public to come out and ask questions and comment on proposals as to where the proposed location for the new jail will be. The committee indicated several possible sites that have been looked at over the past few months, including the Hayes property located near the Smithville Wal-Mart, the Foster property behind DeKalb Middle School, property on West Main Street in Smithville, 40-acres off of Robinson Road, a parcel off of Smith Road, and the jail’s current location.

Committee Chairman Larry Green stated early in the meeting that, “We are building a jail only.”

As for the current location, Green said that the greatest impact on the community would be where the jail is currently located.

Commissioner Myron Rhody said, “That’s going to be the least objection. I have heard very little to none objection down there. As a matter of fact, of the 85 percent that voted ‘no’ about moving it, that’s what they meant. They want to leave it where it’s at. They don’t want it in their neighborhood. They want to see us repair what we’ve got and add on what we need.”

Commissioner Tony Luna said he was looking towards the future. “On down the road, if we’re looking ahead, there’s no way to expand on this if we ever need to. That’s what’s going to happen with the population growth that we’ve got. We are pigeon holing ourself into one location that will never be expanded on again.”

The number of beds needed for the facility was also discussed, with some saying 125 beds with shell space for adding additional bed space in the future as the best option, while others argued that 190 beds would only touch on what the county would need in the future.

“This isn’t a JCPenney or Sears and Roebuck catalog where it’s Christmas and we check off everything we want. We have to stay within our means.  That’s what the public knows, I know it, and we all ought to know it.”

Luna countered, saying, “To think that we’re not going to grow and this is all we’re ever going to have, that doesn’t work anymore.”

Greg Matthews pointed out that the jail issue had been dropped in this commission’s lap with previous administrations not following through with already planned phased expansions of the jail. “This has been a three-phase plan for 20 plus years, and not one time has phase two ever been done. Nothing has been done.”

Commissioner Beth Pafford stated that she would like an architect to look at plans for Phase two and phase three, and see if they would be viable. “I’m really tired of hearing about the plan for downtown that was put forward. It’s frustrating. It was not a plan for just a jail. It was a plan for a justice center with a 190-bed jail. I think it would benefit all of us to show the public what that would look like, or show them that it cannot happen.”

The public also was allowed the opportunity to speak out over the jail issue and the various proposed locations. The main issue many had was the concern of increased traffic in residential areas. Residents were also concerned about whether those released from jail might be walking through residential neighborhoods close by.

Paul Miranda asked the commission, “How many similar jail sites have you visited that are comparable to what you’re looking for, and how many have visited?”

Chairman Green answered, “One site … six of us.”

“That seems abhorrently low for such a big decision” Miranda said. “How many of them required you to drive through a residential neighborhood? I say none. You’re looking at one location that has an entry and exit point in a residential area, close to a school.”

Smith road resident Annette Evans said her concerns are over safety in the neighborhood having a jail so close. She was also concerned about increased traffic, combining with the traffic caused by the factories on Cookeville Highway.

Randy Rhody thanked the commission for their service and for having a public forum on the issue. “I have been dismayed at how this jail problem has blown into such a huge controversy. The topic most citizens seemed to be most dismayed with is the there has seemingly been no attempt to solve this problem at a low-cost option. They believe you simply want a big project with a big price tag that frankly we cannot afford. I believe the citizens want a low-cost solution that provides for our basic needs and not outlandish wants.”

A total of sixteen people stepped to the podium to speak, with some expressing anger over the county commission’s vote last year to increase the property tax rate by 51 cents to service the debt on construction of a proposed jail/judicial center through issuance of bonds not to exceed $65 million. The justice center failed a public referendum vote last November. But while the bond issue did not move forward, the property tax increase still remains in place.