A proposal to temporarily halt work on DeKalb County’s planned jail project until after the August election failed, with commissioners voting 9-3 against the measure.
Commissioner Myron Rhodey said voters should go to the polls before work continues.
“I think we need to, according to people I’ve talked with, we need to slow down on this jail project,” Rhodey said. “I’m not saying discontinue it, but we need to, I make a motion that we curtail any more business with it until after the election.”
Mayor Matt Adcock clarified the motion would freeze the project by preventing additional bids or other work from moving forward until commissioners could revisit the issue following the election.
Before the vote, Commissioner Beth Pafford questioned whether pausing the project could create additional costs if the county is already under contract. Adcock said he was unsure of the financial impact and that the issue would require additional study.
Commissioners Greg Matthews, Myron Rhodey and Beth Pafford voted in favor of delaying the project. Larry Green, Jack Barton, Tom Chandler, Andy Pack, Mathias Anderson, Glenn Merriman, Daniel Cripps, Jeff Barnes and Sabrina Farler voted against the proposal, defeating the motion by a 9-3 margin.
