Jail discussion divides Dougherty County Commission

The Dougherty County Commission has failed to take action on a recommendation for renovations at the county’s jail facility made in February. This week members of the Public Works Committee questioned why the recommendation has not been placed on the agenda for action. File Photo

ALBANY – Two Dougherty County commissioners asked on Monday for an explanation of why a committee recommendation related to repairs at the county jail has not been placed on the  body’s agenda for more than a month.

After pointing to commission rules that they say require action on committee recommendations, the chairman gave a two-word response.

“So noted,” Chairman Lorenzo Heard said.

Prior to that terse response, Commissioners Russell Gray and Ed Newsome questioned why the Public Works Committee’s unanimous recommendation made nearly a month ago recommending the purchase of heating and cooling equipment at the jail facility had not been placed on the agenda.

Ignoring the recommendation is a violation of the commission’s procedures and Roberts Rules of Order, which guide the method of conducting meetings, Gray said.

During the February Public Works Committee meeting, consultant James Andrews Jr. with Macon-based AH&P Consulting Engineers told commissioners on the committee — Victor Edwards, Gray and Newsome — that cooling equipment is reaching the end of its serviceable life and that parts are becoming difficult to come by. Commissioners Gloria Gaines and Anthony Jones also attended the committee meeting.

The equipment, installed during the construction of the jail facility that opened in 1994, is more than 30 years old, 

Gray and Newsome have expressed concern that delaying the purchase puts the county at risk for a failure to the system that would necessitate housing inmates at other facilities, which would come at great expense.

Due to back orders, delivery of some of the equipment would take more than a year, Andrews told the committee.

County staff is looking at a proposal that would recondition the existing cooling equipment, Assistant County Manager Barry Brooks said.

“This is not even, from what I’ve heard so far … this is a piecemeal approach and it’s not the recommendation of Public Works,” Newsome said. “We have worked hard to come up with a solution.”

At one point during the discussion, Heard asked Newsome to lower his voice.

The committee has studied the issue for a year and a half, bringing in the experts and having discussions with staff to come up with the proposal, Gray said.

“We’ve still delayed in putting this on our agenda,” he said of the recommendation made in February. “Robert’s Rules of Order requires taking action.”

Last month, a move to place the recommendation on the agenda failed in a 5-2 vote. The item was placed on a February agenda for the full commission but was removed by Heard.

“That, to me, is a serious delay,” Gray said. “I fell like taxpayers need to hear why this hasn’t been put on the agenda. I think the citizens need an explanation.”

The commission will be provided an option of two proposals: that from the Public Works Committee and a separate proposal to recondition the old equipment.

The replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is the first phase, estimated at $11 million and includes replacing the locking mechanisms at the facility and boiler. That project is part of $24 million in estimated needs at the jail facility that was opened in 1994.

“We were looking at some options other than a complete replacement,” Brooks said of the HVAC system. “We’re looking at something that’s agreeable to the sheriff that doesn’t require a total replacement of the HVAC system without the delay on equipment.”

The two options will be brought to the commission at a later date, he said.

Commissioner Anthony Jones asked for calm in what has become a contentious issue. He also asked for a vote on the Public Works committee’s recommendation.

“I want to bring the temperature down,” he said. “There’s so much tension every tine we talk about this jail. We have to get this jail done.

“There was that recommendation. Bring that forward. You have a chance to vote it down or you have the chance to vote it up. Let’s just do it. We need to do (that) so we can make a decision. At the end of the day, we’ve got to do something about the jail. We’re adults. Le’ts go ahead and do something right and do something about the jail. I don’t like this tension.”

Commissioner Gloria Gaines said that she liked the idea of having options on the expenditure.

“People are concerned about the system going out … and there’s merit in that,” she said. “The discussion is needed. Options are needed. We have not considered the recommendation, but we are talking about it, and that’s fine.”