BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS
The Autauga County Commission met Tuesday night, with more discussions about the Autauga Metro Jail on the agenda.
Prior to any action taken, Attorney Tray Richardson spoke to the Commission members during public comments. Richardson represents Autauga Sheriff Mark Harrell, in relation to the prisoners being evacuated from the jail in early June.
Richardson asked that the Commission at least make a motion on multiple issues to be presented by Sheriff Harrell, to at least allow discussion. At the last regular meeting, Sheriff Harrell came with several requests, all of which died on the floor due to a lack of a second.
“Those matters are crucial to the continued administration of justice in our courtrooms,” Richardson said.
He also asked County Attorney Kyle Shirley for an update regarding any remediation to be done at the jail to remove mold before prisoners can be brought back.
“I can provide you with any information that is out there,” Shirley said. “But you asked about the control panels and had your client not walked out of the last meeting he would have heard that that bid was awarded (referring to repairs on the control panels.)” Shirley then said that the sheriff had walked out of the last meeting because he was more worried about a press conference.
Richardson fired back, “I am worried about the update, but if you want to talk about press conferences, we can do that, too.”
Chairman Thompson then asked that Richardson direct his comments to the commission members.
Richardson then asked about the remediation/removal of mold in the jail.
Chairman Jay Thompson said the commission is waiting on bids for the project. Thompson also said the bid has been let to PCI for the work on the fire alarm and fire extinguisher issues.
Sheriff Harrell then addressed members with several issues.
First up was a request to approve an increase in vehicle maintenance in the amount of $40,000 to hopefully get through the remainder of the budget year. The budget is currently $1,000 over budget for the year.
Commissioner Thrailkill made a recommendation to take the expenses month by month, rather than for the year. He proposed approving $10,000 for now.
“I appreciate that,” Sheriff Harrell said. After an amendment to change the figure, the motion passed unanimously.
Next was a request by Harrell to approve an increase in fuel cost due to the transport of inmates to and from jail facilities throughout the state for housing, court and bond procedures in the amount of $50,000. There is currently $13,960 left in the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Commissioner Thrailkill recommended approving $5,000 for this month, and then reevaluate it at the end of the month and move forward.
Sheriff Harrell said, “Anything is better than nothing, yes sir.” The amended motion passed unanimously.
Next up, Harrell requested all fees be paid associated with the representation of Tray Richardson, attorney, for Sheriff Mark Harrell and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office employees.
Commissioner Larry Stoudemire made the motion, but the request died for a lack of a second and there was no vote.
Next the sheriff requested for approval to open a purchase order for all costs associated with the closing of the jail. This would include the setup of a processing center at the sheriff’s office to include phone lines, cameras, internet service and supplies.
Commissioner Stoudemire made the motion, but it died for a lack of a second and there was no vote.
The Commission then unanimously approved a mutual aid agreement for housing inmates in multiple counties, since the jail has been evacuated.
“Thank y’all so much. I appreciate you,” Sheriff Harrell said.
The Commission then moved on to other business, but questions about the jail and mold remediation were raised again near the end of the meeting.
Commissioner Stoudemire asked for clarification concerning the earlier discussion between Attorney Tray Richardson and County Attorney Kyle Shirley.
“Because I don’t know nothing about this,” Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire then said that he does not feel that the Commission, and he in particular, is being provided information before meetings concerning issues.
Shirley explained that he had forwarded information from the earlier discussion to County Administrator Scott Kramer.
Stoudemire said he continues to be questioned about the current state of the jail from his constituents, but he has no answers due to a lack of information being provided to him. He said he doesn’t want to lie to his constituents, but he feels he has no pertinent, up to date knowledge of where the county stands in the process.
Shirley then told Stoudemire to never lie.
“I have no answers for them,” he said. “It has been almost three weeks and we don’t have anybody starting on the jail?”
Shirley said that was not his department, so he could not speak to the process, or what is being done.
Stoudemire then asked Kramer.
He responded, “We are working with the architect to define the scope and then we are putting it out to vendors.”
Stoudemire asked why the commission is working with the architects, rather than an agency that can fix the mold issues in the jail.
It was explained that multiple agencies will have to work together to complete work on the jail, to ensure that it all fits together, rather than duplicating efforts or paying for services twice.
“The public needs to know what we are doing with taxpayer money,” Stoudemire said.
He continued that the amount of time it is taking to get work done in the jail “is making us look bad. It shouldn’t take this long. When you have an emergency like this, we need to jump right on it. We are dragging our feet up here y’all.”
Other commissioners explained there is a process, and the scope of work involved must be clearly defined.
“I am not a construction guy. But I do have a little common sense. It shouldn’t take this long to get someone over there and see what is going on. It wouldn’t happen like this at your house. If you have something like this at your house and you have a wife, you are going to jump right on it,” Stoudemire said, offering a moment of levity.
Shirley assured Stoudemire that the commission is working diligently through the process and is on top of things.
Stoudemire then asked that any information received about jail updates could be shared with him and all commissioners in the future.
“We are responsible for everything that happens in this county. The five of us. If anything goes wrong, it falls back on the five of us.”
He requested a copy of everything that is being done and discussed.
Shirley then said that he will forward everything to Stoudemire.
At this point, a jail employee said, “Would you go sit in the jail? You can have my office.”
Stoudemire again expressed frustration that he is not being kept in the loop. “I don’t care if the cat runs away, I want to know about it.”
The meeting then adjourned.
