DEKALB COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — One county just approved the building of a new jail and Sheriff's Office in town.
It’s a move being met with lots of community disapproval — something that’s been the case for years — but county commissioners say it was necessary.
Last month, DeKalb County leaders approved the budget and purchased 71 acres of property on Smith Road.
“I’m very upset about it," said Shirley McCoy, who lives in the neighborhood where the jail is set to be built. "My aunt lives up the road, she’s in her 90s, my mama, she’s in her late 80s, they don’t need all that."
“When they came out with this in the meeting last month, it was a 'WTF' moment," added Tom Rowland.
He says the community already shut down the plan for a $65 million project last year, in a referendum that 85% of