Dallas County may have to sue insurance firm to get funds for jail repairs, Nunn says

Dallas County Commission Chairman Jimmy Nunn outlined progress and ongoing challenges facing the county during a State of the County address on Monday, highlighting efforts to repair the county jail, prepare for upcoming elections and maintain roads amid limited funding.

In his speech to the Rotary Selma Club, Nunn said one of the most pressing issues remains repairs to the Dallas County Jail, which was damaged by the 2023 tornado. Nunn said the county has spent about $12 million so far on jail and juvenile detention facilities and has received approximately $17 million in insurance funds, but final repairs are stalled while the county awaits approval from its insurance company.

“The jail is still out of whack,” Nunn said, explaining that insurance adjusters have determined the facility is repairable rather than a total loss. The final phase of repairs is estimated at $20 million, an amount the county has already submitted to the insurance company for review. Nunn brought a thick stack of papers that went to the insurance firm.

Nunn said the county has completed other major work on the juvenile detention center and other facilities at the jail and has spent $3 million in reroofing. An architect has been hired to oversee the jail’s repairs. However, he warned the county may have to take legal action if insurance delays continue.

“We may have to sue the insurance company to get this finished,” Nunn said.

In the meantime, inmates are housed across seven facilities, including Uniontown, which currently holds more than 200 inmates. Nunn said the Uniontown facility can be used for up to six years if necessary while repairs are completed. He estimated the jail could be finished within a year to a year and a half once insurance approval is granted.

Nunn also addressed the upcoming municipal and county elections, noting strong cooperation between the county and newly elected city officials. Dallas County collects city taxes, manages 911 services through an agreement, supports the animal shelter, and provides election equipment for municipal elections.

The primary election will be held on May 19 with a runoff scheduled for June 16. The general election is Nov. 3.

More from this section

The Cayman Islands Are Hiring Someone to Do Nothing, and That’s the Point

What are 'rare earths' for?

Air India inspects Boeing 787 fuel switches after grounding

Candidate qualifying ended last Friday, and Nunn said there are no challengers against incumbent tax collector or school board members. There are four candidates running for sheriff, all of them Democrats. With no Republican candidates in the race, the sheriff’s race is expected to be decided in the June runoff.

Turning to infrastructure, Nunn said road maintenance remains a challenge due to rising costs. Each county commissioner receives between $22,000 and $25,000 per month from gas tax and federal aid funds, with total road funding around $250,000, an amount that only covers about one mile of paving.

To stretch resources, the county is using grading and chip sealing rather than full paving when possible. Nunn encouraged residents to contact commissioners directly with road concerns.

The county has also spent about $650,000 cleaning up illegal dumping sites in partnership with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Nunn said large dumping areas have been found along roads, in gullies and across rural parts of the county. When county crews cannot handle a site, ADEM verifies the site and sends in contractors.

Nunn also highlighted several public-service improvements, including:

• Weather radios, available first-come, first-served, one per household
• Expanded storm shelters and warning sirens, funded through the Emergency Management Agency
• Upgrades to the county’s online tax and property assessment system, allowing residents to view property values, tax amounts, and payment information more easily

Nunn said the county passed a $34.8 million budget last year, approved salary increases and bonuses for 210 county employees and undergoes an audit every year to maintain a balanced budget.

“We’re running smoothly,” Nunn said, adding that the county expects to begin the next budget cycle within the next two months.