UPDATE: This decertification comes on the heels of a heated debate over what the future of the Meigs County jail should look like and how much of that burden should be felt by Meigs County taxpayers.
The county commission head a meeting Tuesday where numerous residents voiced opposition to a potential $30 million jail on Memorial Drive in Decatur.
One resident said, “Many residents cannot absorb a tax hike. If taxes rise sharply to fund a new jail, those with limited assets will simply have no choice but absorb them and survive on less every year. While those who are better off may choose to relocate.”
This new jail was one of three options, as the other two including either renovating or expanding the current facility on River Road.
One resident who spoke out in favor of the new jail said, “That $30 million dollar jail this year, maybe it’s $80 million jail next year, maybe a $120 million jail after that.”
Even with the possibility of decertification, which has come to pass from the Tennessee Correctional Institute, one commissioner said, “It’d be lovely to have a new jail! But we cannot afford it…We can fix this old jail. I know it is in bad shape! But it’s going to be fixed and brought up. But it can be done, and not at the taxpayers expense.”
It is unclear what the next steps are for Meigs County to address this decertification.
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MEIGS COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Meigs County Jail has officially been decertified, according to an official with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office.
News 12 received a statement from the District Attorney who represents Meigs County, Russell Johnson.
He said:
“No real immediate impact on our office as long as our defendants who are in custody remain in the jail or surrounding county jails. Long term the Meigs County Commission will have to come up with a plan for a remodel with an enlargement, or an addition, or a new jail entire, or a new jail/justice center. They need more beds. The jail is outdated and each commissioner and detractor needs to go visit and tour the jail to see for themselves.”
– Russell Johnson, 9th District Attorney General said.
We are working to learn more details.
The Meigs County Jail was first built in 1963 and later had 3 expansions, according to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) website.
There are currently 11 certified corrections officers employed by the Meigs County Sheriff’s Department. There is also 1 full time nurse and 1 full doctor on call, according to the MCSO website.
