Commissioners increase funding to youth detention center renovations
County commissioners approved additional funding for the Youth Justice and Education Center Monday night, bringing the total cost of renovations to the former Shelby Training Center to $28 million.
The vote Monday added $10.9 million to the project, also allocating about $2.5 million previously added that came from state grant funding.
County officials defended the price increase, saying it was a necessary step toward having a quality detention facility for youth that meets Department of Justice standards, but some commissioners questioned the last minute rush on the vote and how estimated costs have risen over the years.
The increase came from rising construction costs as well as changing recommendations in how best to outfit the facility to serve the needs of detained youth, said Cliff Norville, director of public works, in two special called meetings Monday.
“In my opinion, commissioner, it will be a high-quality facility," Norville said in response to a question from Commissioner
Mick Wright. “From day one we’ve known this facility was going to cost us in excess of $25 million.”
“We want to make sure that this time we understand fully what’s being contemplated, that this time if we approve it that we’re approving a final plan that meets all the needs of Shelby County, that it’s something we can be proud of," Wright said.
The project has been in the works for nearly the entire tenure of Mayor Lee Harris and this county commission. Originally, the county had discussed renovating the facilities at 616 Adams, where both courtrooms and detention facilities are currently located, but plans changed when the county purchased the former Shelby Training Center from Corecivic in fiscal year 2020 for $3.4 million.
In fiscal year 2021, about $4.8 million was carried forward to fiscal year 2022.
Then for the budget for fiscal year 2022, when the Harris administration reported that the total cost of renovations at the training center would be $16.8 million, commissioners originally took the budgeted amount down to $10 million, in addition to the $4.7 million
carried forward from the previous year. That brought the total for the first phase to $14.7 million.
Current facility has long drawn negative attention
The current juvenile detention facility at 616 Adams has long drawn negative attention. A 2017 report noted that not all cells have natural light and that none are ADA accessible. Poor air conditioning has also impacted detainees, sometimes forcing them to be relocated, and the building is plagued with consistent mechanical problems.
“The longer we wait, the more the costs go up and the concerns about how our juveniles are being treated," said Commission Chairman Willie Brooks Jr.
The newly renovated facility will include classrooms outfitted with computer monitors where Memphis Shelby County Schools will provide education for the youth, Norville told commissioners Monday. There will be a courtroom for Juvenile Court to hold hearings on site. There is a fully constructed gymnasium as well as another sports field on the 10-acre parcel of land.
Originally, the county designed the facility with the intent of having 25 bedrooms per unit. Per Department of Justice recommendations, they've now decreased that number to 16 per unit, so the ratio between juvenile and jailer will be eight-to-one. Additional rooms in units will be renovated into medical spaces, video conferencing rooms and storage rooms.
Norville said he has been assured of a March 2023 completion date, and that this funding will be sufficient for finishing the project.
The increased funding was approved Monday night unanimously, with the votes of all eight commissioners present: Wright, Brooks, Eddie Jones Jr., Van Turner Jr., Reginald Milton, David Bradford, Brandon Morrison and Michael Whaley.
The item increasing the funding originally appeared on the agenda at the March 21 commission meeting. When it appeared that there were not enough votes for it to pass, Turner motioned to delay the vote until a future committee meeting April 6. The commission instead brought the item back before a special called committee meeting — followed the same day by a special called commission meeting — Monday.
Some commissioners voice concerns
On his Facebook page Friday, Ford called the Monday meeting a “backdoor, last second” special called meeting that “almost triples the initial dollar figure passed last June.” While the ask would nearly triple the total amount from the $10 million put into the budget for fiscal year 2022, it is not a tripling of the total original cost of the renovations.
Ford also blasted the timeline of the special called meetings, which were noticed to the public Friday afternoon.
“Doesn't that deserve more conversation and time for people to give their public input?” Ford posted on Facebook. “Well, there are people that I serve with that do not want your input at all, in my opinion for political purposes. Pushcard politics at its finest.”
Ford was not present at the Monday night vote.
The timing of the meetings also meant that Commissioner Tami Sawyer could not be present, a concern she voiced to Brooks, she said on Twitter.
“I am opposed to this expenditure and feel a) the increased funding is unexplained and b) the county has not put enough funding into youth initiatives that benefit youth instead of incarcerate them,” Sawyer tweeted. “I've got teens emailing me asking for more opportunities for them and their friends. But yes, let's rush 30M to rehab the building we purchased from Core Civic (mass incarceration corporation) to jail more kids.”
During the meeting, Whaley asked if the commissioners could hear more about the programming and amenities that the new space would provide to youth who come into contact with the justice system.
Dora Benn, chief inspector with the Shelby County Sheriff 's Office, said the office is already preparing for the move. Programming will include cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management programs, programs led by the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, art and painting programs, music programs and more, she said.
“We are trying to get our youth to be successful and to be productive once they get out into the community," she said.
Rebecca Davis, a member of the Countywide Juvenile Justice Consortium, also spoke to the commission, saying the group has tried to get information on the progress of the facility. She asked for more transparency for the public.
"We would love to have input on the design team and the programming team," Davis said. "We want to ensure that youth voice is heard and considered, especially youth that are justiceimpacted."
Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.