Research for this article was completed with the assistance of Long County citizen Lisa Ruise.
Public records show that Long County commissioners never voted on the construction of the $14 million jail and that contracts executed between commissioners and a building authority were signed by the same person on both ends of the transaction.
The jail, which remains incomplete nine months after a ribbon cutting ceremony, was constructed without competitive bidding, without commissioner oversight, and without funds securely appropriated to ensure completion.
BACKGROUND
In March 2021, Sheriff Craig Nobles proposed to commissioners the need for a 50-bed jail and two months later, commissioners voted to purchase land for the site of the future jail complex.
Commissioners then sought to create the Long County Building & Public Facilities Authority (LCBPFA) to oversee the project and obtain revenue bonds to pay for it. The authority was established and within a week of its formal organization, the LCBPFA secured $10 million in bonds. The Long County Board of Commissioners executed a contract with LCBPFA to ensure the funds were used to construct and equip the jail.
According to 2022 meeting minutes, $10 million was expected to come from bonds, on which payments would be made, and anything over $10 million would be paid for with government funds from county coffers. Allstate projected the jail would cost $13,889,707.97, meaning after bonds, the county would need roughly $3.89 million to complete the jail. Through change orders over the course of construction, jail completion costs increased to $14,275,325.26 through December 31, 2024 and as of the end of 2024, the county owed $332,091.39.
But as it turns out, the process was flawed from the start:
- The parcels of land for the jail location were purchased at a price more than 20x their assessed value.
- LCBPFA members voted to appoint a chairman and a vice chairman for the authority. (Parker and Blocker, respectively) Both members voted on their own appointment. Another member of the authority included the brother of Sheriff Craig Nobles.
- The LCBPFA convened for its first meeting but the project was already in the works with a cost estimate, loan terms, and other items which would have been obtained after the authority was lawfully established.
- Robert Parker executed the intergovernmental agreement and signed on behalf of the County Commissioners and the LCBPFA.
- The attorney for the county commissioners and the LCBPFA was the same individual – James Smith.
- The Authority was responsible for the project of constructing the jail, but the property was owned by the Board of Commissioners.
TIMELINE
March 2, 2021 – Sheriff Craig Nobles met with Commissioners to propose a 50-bed jail facility. Nobles shared problems and expenses that accompany Long County not having its own jail.
June 2, 2021 – Long County Commissioners vote to purchase land adjacent to the Courthouse from the Lois Sandos Estate. One of the heirs of that estate was the Tax Assessor at the time, Beverly Johnson. Motion made by Blocker, seconded by Reddish, approved 3-1 with Hall opposing and Baggs abstaining. The purchase price was $200,000 for two dilapidated homes and nearly one acre (combined). The properties were valued at less than $10,000 combined.
This site would later become the home to the new jail, but that was not disclosed at the time of the purchase.
September 7, 2021 – Commissioners vote to approve a resolution for local legislation by the Georgia General Assembly to create the Long County Building & Public Facilities Authority. (unanimous approval)
December 7, 2021 – Commissioners vote to select Allstate Construction as the Long County Jail Architect. (unanimous approval, Hall not present)
April 5, 2022 – Commissioner Baggs inquires about the jail. Chairman Parker stated it was in the early architectural stage. “Once that is completed, it will be sent to State for financing. Also, Sheriff Nobles stated it would house 103 inmates and employ 18-24 people.” (per meeting minutes) The capacity is now double the original proposal from one year prior.
April 25, 2022 – The LCBPF Authority is created following votes by the legislature and a signature of the Governor.
May 3, 2022 – Commissioners vote on rezone application #Z-022-005. The measure passed 3-2 with Baggs and Hall opposing. Commissioner Hall stated the opposition because the county could not afford a jail.
June 7, 2022 – Commissioner Reddish makes a motion to appoint Chairman Robert Parker, Gerald Blocker, Jason Smiley, Mike Jones, and Kenny Nobles (brother to Sheriff Craig Nobles) to the Building Authority. It was approved 4-1 with Baggs opposing. Despite being the subject of the appointments, both Parker and Blocker voted in favor of their own appointments.
During this same county commission meeting, Parker told the public that the major increases to the county budget for the upcoming year were for salaries, retirement, and fuel increases. There was no appropriation of funds for the jail, despite a $1.3 million increase in revenue at the time.
June 14, 2022 – The Long County Building & Public Facilities Authority (LCBPFA) convenes for a meeting. This is the first meeting since the board’s creation so members adopt organizational bylaws and appoint Parker as Chairman, Kenny Nobles as Vice Chairman, and James B. Smith as the LCBPFA attorney. Smith is also the attorney for the Long County Board of Commissioners.
Parker reports to the Building Authority that the Jail Project will cost $10 million and will be placed on property purchased by the Long County Commissioners. According to meeting minutes, “Parker also stated the closing on the project will be in July 2022, in the process of financing a 10-year-term at 3.5% interest. The project proceeds will derive from Impact Fees, Jail Fund, Special Funds, and a small portion from the Commissioners General Fund.”
Sheriff Nobles told Commissioners that an on-site supervisor from Allstate Construction would be present during construction. He shares that the new building will also house E911 services.
June 21, 2022 –
8:30 A.M. – LCBPF Authority convenes for a meeting to adopt the Bond Resolution Series 2022 and Intergovernmental Agreement for the Jail Project. It passes unanimously with VIce Chair Kenny Nobles and Mike Jones absent.
Robert Parker and Gerald Blocker are present. Jason Smiley attends by phone.
9:18 A.M. – Commissioners vote in a special-called meeting to adopt the Series 2022 Bond Resolution and Intergovernmental Agreement for the Jail. Attorney James B. Smith represents both parties in the transaction. It is approved unanimously by Parker, Blocker, Reddish, and Hall voting. Commissioner Baggs is absent.
Series 2022A – $3,400,000
Series 2022B – $3,300,000
Series 2022C – $3,300,000
Total of $10 million in Revenue Bonds
Project Description: construction and equipping of a new jail facility to be constructed on 2 parcels adjacent to the Long County Courthouse on South Mcdonald Street in Ludowici. Jail complex to consist of approximately 100 beds and space for staff and booking operations. Also included will be E911 operations center.
The project is well underway at this point and the details of the project have never been disclosed to the public and neither the commissioners nor the LCBPFA sought public input at any point.
October 19, 2022 – LCBPFA convenes to approve subcontractors for the jail project. It passed 4-0 with Jason Smiley abstaining.
February 21, 2023 – LCBPFA convenes to authorize payment of bills. Sheriff Nobles also provides an update on the jail project.
December 8, 2023 – Commissioners hold a special-called meeting to approve a Tax Anticipation Loan financing commitment with Ameris Bank. It was approved unanimously.
January 2, 2024 – Commissioners adopt resolution to renew Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) for Series 2024 for short term financing of the Jail (unanimous approval)
February 6, 2024 – Commissioners adopt a resolution to adopt the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) for Series 2024 Resolution. (unanimous approval)
February 15, 2024 – Commissioners adopt a resolution ‘authorizing the Long County Board of Commissioners to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Long County Building and Public Facilities Authority for 2024 Bond Issuance” and authorize Chairman Robert Parker to sign the agreement. This time, the bonds are for $6 million. (unanimous approval, Hall & Craft not present)
February 16, 2024 – LCBPFA convenes to authorize the intergovernmental agreement with the county for an additional $6 million in revenue bonds.
March 12, 2024 – Sheriff Craig Nobles presents an update on the jail to commissioners. According to the meeting minutes, “[i]t is going well and [he] commended the contractors and architects for doing a good job. The new jail is expected to open in August. Sheriff Nobles introduced Major Sam Gordon as the Jail Administrator and Mrs. Julie Wells as the Jail Administration Secretary.”
March 22, 2024 –
9:00 AM – Commissioners convene for a special-called meeting to adopt a Resolution ratifying the Bond Resolution of the LCBPF Authority and to name the facility after the late Sheriff Cecil Nobles.
9:15 AM – LCBPFA convenes to adopt a resolution on supplemental bonds and to name the building after Nobles. It was approved unanimously with member Mike Jones absent.
June 25, 2024 – Chairman Robert Parker says during a public hearing on the county budget that the increase over the previous year is due to “inflation and the new Long County Jail.” Specifically, “he stated the $1.8 million increase was due to jail costs.” (Craft and Hall not present)
July 2, 2024 – Commissioners reappoint Jason Smiley, Kenny Nobles, and Mike Jones to Long County Building & Public Facilities Authority. (unanimous approval, Craft and Hall not present)
October 9, 2024 – Commissioners vote to amend the Tax Anticipation Note, GB Bank Group Inc. (unanimous approval)
February 4, 2025 – After inquiry by a citizen, Chairman James Craft says that Tax Anticipation Notes have been paid as agreed.
April 7, 2025 – County Manager Chuck Scraggs says the county will utilize a Tax Anticipation Note from the Ludowici Bank (Glennville Bank Group) to make the bond payments ($815,000) due on April 15, 2025. Sheriff Craig Nobles sits on the Glennville Bank Group Advisory Board.
April 8, 2025 – To complete the jail, the county needs $332,091.39. The Long County Development Authority indicates it will cover the remaining costs needed to open the jail with a $325,000 loan. The 0% loan will be paid back in two payments – one due in 12 months and another in 24 months.
County Manager Chuck Scraggs told WJCL that it costs $512,000 annually to house inmates in other counties, so this is going to be a ‘pretty good offset.’
At no time did county commissioners vote on a contract with Allstate for construction of the jail. The extent of the votes by commissioners included architectural design services in 2021.
At no time did the LCBPFA vote on any contract with Allstate or any other contractor or vendor for specific services for jail construction.
Neither the commissioners nor the LCBPFA ever voted on a proposal that specifically outlined the details of the jail, the projected cost, or the project specifics.
There is no record of any kind for approval of Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Quotes (RFQ) related to the jail construction. The LCBPFA voted in 2022 to “approve subcontractors,” but has no record of seeking competitive bids for those services in accordance with county ordinances or state law.
The county commissioners voted twice on bond issuance, for a total of $16 million, but given the county’s financial position, it does not appear that bond funds were spent as appropriated.
I think Parker and Fowler should not have been allowed bond. With all the charges against them, Parker has federal charges also. How do we know he hasn’t Skipped on his bond. Governor Kemp should remove him and others from the commission office. There has been so much corruption.