David Shackelford, a McKinney resident, told the court he has experience working in homeless services and urged the county to provide a site on county property where a homeless shelter could be built.
"If a piece of property was made available for a homeless shelter, there are plenty of charities in place that could pick up the rest of the cost," Shackelford said, adding that existing shelters such as the Samaritan Inn are "far too restrictive" for many people who need services. He said a county-provided site could support reentry services for people released from jail and reduce the burden on individual cities.
Shackelford recommended county oversight, suggesting commissioners be placed on a shelter board so the county could "keep an eye on what's going on." He argued a county facility could deter criminal activity and reduce the movement of people with complex needs into the county from other jurisdictions.
No motion or vote followed the comment during the meeting; the court did not take formal action on the suggestion.