A mental health center to divert minor offenders from the Shelby County Jail to treatment is one step closer to being a reality, after the county commission approved a $1.73 million contract for a design on the long-requested facility during the Monday, Aug. 26 meeting.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris bypassed a second round of bidding by selecting A2H to draw up the design.
Earlier in the year, commissioners rejected a similar contract, after the Lakeland, Tenn. architectural firm matched scores during the contracting process with a competing firm, Self + Tucker.
The executive decision required commission approval because the contract exceeds $50,000. It passed on a 9-3 vote.
Once a design is submitted, a construction contract will follow. Per federal regulations, commissioners have until the end of the calendar year to identify projects to spend the remaining American Rescue Plan Act stimulus funds. The money must be spent by the end of 2026.
If all things go according to plan, the project is still on an abbreviated schedule for completion. A comparable center in Nashville, meanwhile, is operating with a 3-5 year window to begin operations.
According to Cliff Norville, the Shelby County Director of Public Works, the shortened timetable will allow the project to boost the planned use of minority contractors to 25 percent, from an earlier estimate of 10 percent.
During the meeting, one of the criticism of the Harris’ selection was that A2H isn’t a minority-owned firm.
Along with several area leaders, Shelby County Sheriff has argued for the need for the facility for years. In addition to rerouting nonviolent offenders to proper mental care, the center is expected to help reduce overcrowding at the aging Shelby County Jail.
Commission makes tweaks to pay raises
Members also agreed 8-3-1 to tweak an across-the-board 6 percent raise approved last month.
The new proposal will offer pay hikes above 6 percent to the lowest paid part and full-time employees. The highest paid employees, meanwhile, will see a boost of under 5 percent when the raises take effect in January 2025.
Sponsor Erika Sugarmon opted for the new formula, after exploring the use of $47,000 county reserves to make the raises more equitable during budget season.
Elected officials will not be eligible for the raise.
Employees of the District Attorney General’s office and the Public Defender’s office are also ruled out. Full-time, part-time and temporary workers in those offices’ received raises last year.
County firefighters, who draw salaries from fees from county residents, are also exempt.
The raise will also not apply to unfilled positions within the county government.
