Cookeville: They are considering putting a jail in a residential area (felons, homes)

[Wordy]

I am so baffled by this proposition: Herald-Citizen Online Edition - Cookeville, TN Apparently the County Commission is voting Monday evening about a proposal from the planning commission to add two sites to the five (or maybe seven) sites being considered for a "jail annex." I put that in quotes because the number of cells being discussed is 250-500. That's not an annex. It's really not even a jail. It's a prison. The county would profit from it by housing inmates from other parts of the state.

The two areas being proposed for addition to the sites under consideration are both in the middle of single family residential areas. One is actually literally in my backyard. I am so disgusted and appalled by this. The other site is near Cookeville High School, I believe, and the site near my home is less than a mile from the site of a future school slated to be built.

Nobody wants a prison in their backyard, but obviously sometimes it works out that way. However, it should not work out that way unless there are NO other options and I just find it impossible to believe that there are no other options in a county with as much undeveloped land as this one. I'm just as opposed to the "jail" being built in the site near Cookeville High School as I am to it being built in my neighborhood. Either site will impact literally thousands of homes. I'm floored that they think this is even an option.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Wordy

I am so baffled by this proposition: Herald-Citizen Online Edition - Cookeville, TN Apparently the County Commission is voting Monday evening about a proposal from the planning commission to add two sites to the five (or maybe seven) sites being considered for a "jail annex." I put that in quotes because the number of cells being discussed is 250-500. That's not an annex. It's really not even a jail. It's a prison. The county would profit from it by housing inmates from other parts of the state.

The two areas being proposed for addition to the sites under consideration are both in the middle of single family residential areas. One is actually literally in my backyard. I am so disgusted and appalled by this. The other site is near Cookeville High School, I believe, and the site near my home is less than a mile from the site of a future school slated to be built.

Nobody wants a prison in their backyard, but obviously sometimes it works out that way. However, it should not work out that way unless there are NO other options and I just find it impossible to believe that there are no other options in a county with as much undeveloped land as this one. I'm just as opposed to the "jail" being built in the site near Cookeville High School as I am to it being built in my neighborhood. Either site will impact literally thousands of homes. I'm floored that they think this is even an option.

I couldn't agree with you more. I think it's appalling that building a jail next to a residential neighborhood is even being considered. It's not like Cookeville is Hong Kong and has no available land. I hope a lot of people show up Monday night to express their outrage.

[Wordy]

I'll be there. I think a lot of people will be there. Either site would affect the lives and futures of thousands of people and not in a positive way.

[Wordy]

A lot of people were there. It was crazy. One of the most shocking things about it was that on Friday they (not 100% clear on who 'they' is but not the whole county commission) decided to add another site to the proposed sites for consideration, and there was no time to let the people of the immediate area know and register their opinions. That was fairly outrageous and so unfair. The newly proposed site is right across the street from Cane Creek Elementary. What's up with THAT????????

Oh, and there will be no hard core criminals, of course. No felons. Only people who are serving their time on the weekends, trusties, and basically people who shoplifted lipstick and nail polish from Kohl's one time too many. I found that incredibly hard to swallow and from the sound of the crowd, so did EVERYBODY else. Come on.

Upshot: They voted not to consider at least two of the sites. I left before they wrestled their way out of the third one (Lovelady, I think is the name).

Memorable remarks: "If we have to add onto the jail, we are going to have to spend extra money making the building look decent....we can't put a metal building in the middle of town that looks like you-know-what.....the disadvantage of adding onto the jail is that you can't slap a metal building just to be an eyesore right in the center of town..." Paraphrased but that was close, and it was uttered by Kim Blaylock, the county executive as she stood with her back to the hundreds of people who stood to be blessed by the 'metal building that looks like you know what,' the 'eyesore' in their own backyards and/or neighborhoods.

A cogent observation by County Commissioner Kevin Maynard: "The difference between the people who live near the existing jail and the people who are looking to have one put in their neighborhood is that the people who live near the existing jail KNEW the jail was there when they moved there. The people who will be getting a new jail in their neighborhood moved there with NO IDEA that a jail was going to be built."

Probably one of the truest remarks, uttered by Commissioner Johnnie Wheeler: "We all know we are not going to buy any of these properties and build on them, so let's just do what we all know we are going to do and let all these people go home and eat dinner." Hahahaha. I kinda liked her, yes I did.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Wordy

A lot of people were there. It was crazy. One of the most shocking things about it was that on Friday they (not 100% clear on who 'they' is but not the whole county commission) decided to add another site to the proposed sites for consideration, and there was no time to let the people of the immediate area know and register their opinions. That was fairly outrageous and so unfair. The newly proposed site is right across the street from Cane Creek Elementary. What's up with THAT????????

Oh, and there will be no hard core criminals, of course. No felons. Only people who are serving their time on the weekends, trusties, and basically people who shoplifted lipstick and nail polish from Kohl's one time too many. I found that incredibly hard to swallow and from the sound of the crowd, so did EVERYBODY else. Come on.

Upshot: They voted not to consider at least two of the sites. I left before they wrestled their way out of the third one (Lovelady, I think is the name).

Memorable remarks: "If we have to add onto the jail, we are going to have to spend extra money making the building look decent....we can't put a metal building in the middle of town that looks like you-know-what.....the disadvantage of adding onto the jail is that you can't slap a metal building just to be an eyesore right in the center of town..." Paraphrased but that was close, and it was uttered by Kim Blaylock, the county executive as she stood with her back to the hundreds of people who stood to be blessed by the 'metal building that looks like you know what,' the 'eyesore' in their own backyards and/or neighborhoods.

A cogent observation by County Commissioner Kevin Maynard: "The difference between the people who live near the existing jail and the people who are looking to have one put in their neighborhood is that the people who live near the existing jail KNEW the jail was there when they moved there. The people who will be getting a new jail in their neighborhood moved there with NO IDEA that a jail was going to be built."

Probably one of the truest remarks, uttered by Commissioner Johnnie Wheeler: "We all know we are not going to buy any of these properties and build on them, so let's just do what we all know we are going to do and let all these people go home and eat dinner." Hahahaha. I kinda liked her, yes I did.

Johnnie Wheeler sounds like she knows what she's doing!!!!!

Frankly I think the jail annex should go downtown adjacent to the current jail, big metal building or not.

Anyway, thanks for the report. I remember when the current jail (or Palace of Justice as it's sometimes called) was first built, it was considered gargantuan at the time. What a sad commentary that all of the growth in Cookeville has also brought a growth in some of the seedier elements of society.