Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell filed a lawsuit Friday against the Autauga County Commission, alleging “negligent or willful refusal” by the panel to maintain the county jail.

In the 20-page lawsuit filed in Autauga County Circuit Court, Harrell said the commission “has repeatedly failed to grant the request of the sheriff to hire necessary staff” and “maintenance personnel to properly clean and maintain the jail, and to provide and maintain courthouse security and courtroom security.”

In fact, Harrell, who has been sheriff since January 2023, alleges the neglect goes back as far as 2006, through previous administrations.

“This is a statutory mandate. It cannot legally be avoided,” the suit states.

Harrell last June announced he was evacuating the lockup “due to health and safety issues.” According to the suit, inmates were transported to Blount, Cullman, Lowndes and Russell counties at a cost of $222,585.

The Autauga County Commission later called the move unnecessary.

A subsequent inspection revealed mold in several locations in the jail. It would cost about $378,000 to remediate the mold, not counting replacement for all ductwork.

About $150,000 in work was done, but Harrell’s lawsuit said there has been no subsequent inspection.