Nashville’s Mayor And Sheriff Ask Council To Fund Controversial Jail Plan

There’s beginning to be some agreement between Nashville’s mayor and sheriff over a controversial jail project.

Mayor Megan Barry and Sheriff Daron Hall issued a joint statement late Tuesday that urges the city council to keep $40 million dollars in the budget to build a new sheriff’s headquarters, and upgrade a temporary jail, on Harding Place in Southeast Nashville.

“We believe that moving forward immediately … is necessary for the safety and well-being of DCSO staff and inmates alike,” the statement reads. “Failure to approve these funds will result in a reduction of nearly 250 beds at the new CJC, requiring more inmates to be permanently housed at the Harding Place complex. Additionally, we both agree that it makes financial and logistical sense.”

(Read the full statement here.)

Not long after seeing the official update, Lorinda Hale, a neighborhood leader with Southeast Nashville United, begged the council to hold off on funding without more specifics.

“As a student of politics I’m very suspect about the timing of the release,” Hale said. “I’m disappointed, greatly … Southeast Nashville has been dumped on and lied to more times than we care to count.”

In response, area Councilman Sam Coleman said more delays would be costly.

“It’s true we’ve had some miscommunications,” he said. “I heard the anguish. I heard the frustration. I can safely tell you, we’ve got our eyes on it.”

Coleman said the council is scrutinizing the jail plan and will answer citizen concerns.

Meanwhile, the council advanced the overall budget on its second reading.

For the most part, government workers, teachers and 911 dispatchers praised the funding plan — including raises of 3 percent for employees.

Yet there were requests for more money for affordable housing, additional firefighters and the Metro Arts Commission.

The budget can still be amended, before a final vote in two weeks.