HOUSTON COUNTY: 10:00 AM The Houston County Commission met this morning for their regular scheduled administrative meeting. Chairman Shoupe began the meeting with discussions over the Houston County Jail.
Chairman Shoupe stated there are a lot of factors which impact the jail, and some of those factors were not present when the current jail was constructed in year 2000. Those issues are transgender, mental health, and more issues. Chairman Shoupe stated the jail overcrowding is not on the Judges, District Attorney, Defense Attoryney. It is the dips and dunks required by the state, the system as a whole which adds to the daily population. Chairman Shoupe has spoke to the Judges who are helping where they can but laws require them to take certain actions and they have no discretion in. Chairman Shoupe stated that he would like the jail situation to wait until year 2034 when some debt rolls off but the problems will not wait until then. Chairman Shoupe said the commission, along with Sheriff and Jail Captain will be in discussions and work sessions the first part of 2026 as to slution.
D4 Commissioner James Ivey, who is a Captain with Houston County Sheriff Department. D4 James Ivey is over Sheriff 911 Center but before that was the Captain over the Houston County Jail. D4 Ivey said he and Chairman Shoupe have met with the local legislative delegation concerning some help to offset costs and debt repayment on adding to the Houston County Jail. D4 Ivey also explained that in year 2023 the Alabama Legislature passed a retail theft law. Persons charged with retail theft do not go to the municipal jail but straight to the county jail. D4 Ivey said as of this morning 21 people in the Houston County Jail are for retail theft. D4 Ivey said he is not blaming legislature but sometime they do n ot realize when they pass legislation the trickle down that happens.
D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring, who is also a Sergeant with Houston County Sheriff Department, stated that Houston County Jail has been a ongoing problem since D3 Commissioner Herring came on the commission. D3 Herring wants the public to know, the commission is mandated by law to take care of the jail and inmates. The laws require the commission to provide food, places for inmates to sleep. As the population grows, D3 Herring stated crime goes up which the laws hold the commissioners feet to the fire. And the way D3 Herring reads the law the commission can be arrested if they do not do certain things for the inmates. D3 Herring made it clear that he is not going to jail for anyone and Herring stated IF IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT A TAX HAS TO BE PASSED HE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON A TAX FOR THE JAIL. Again, D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring made it clear he is not going to jail for anyone.
Chairman Shoupe stated the commission does some popular things such as road re-surface, funding first responders, and more which are important. Those are “choices” the commission makes. Funding the county jail and certain things for inmates, the commission is mandated by law and not optional.
D2 Commissioner Tracy Adams stated that he wants the commission to do their homework. This problem is not unique to Houston County and he would like to see what other counties have done to create revenue for the jail.
Chairman Shoupe stated that some investigation of the issue was done by the County Chief Administrator Peter Covert. And in the work sessions is 2026 they will look at that research. Chairman Shoupe stated that he and the new county administator are going to examine a lot of avenues. Covert retired and the county has a new administrator beginning in 2026.
IN OTHER BUSINESS … Chairman Shoupe said the Town of Rehobeth has voted to join the Alabama Association of County Commissioner and Houston County as defendants in the SSUT use tax lawsuit. This suit is in Montgomery County filed by the City of Tuscaloosa in regards to the Internet Tax on items purchased online.
Houston County Engineer Barkley Kirkland obtained $ 300,000.00 in ARPA money from ADEM for storm water drainage. The work has been completed and the money is grant money to pay for it. Engineer Kirkland found the grant, Houston County applied and was awarded the money.
