Today, Shelby County Commissioners deliberate over a proposed $174,000 contract to partially restore the air-conditioning system at 201 Poplar.
Said proposal comes after weeks of complaints about extreme heat inside the jail, which has led 20 detainees and staff to be treated or sent home after overheating.
In the meantime, temporary chillers, portable air-conditioners, fans, and dehumidifiers have been set up to help cool the building, but certain parts of the jail have reached a staggering 92 degrees.
“I’m concerned someone could lose their life with temperatures that high,” Commissioner Mick Wright stated. “So it’s not just a matter of maintaining state law, it’s also a matter of human life, and that’s the responsibility of the county government to make sure people are safe under the care of the government.”
