WALTHALL -Webster County officials plan to look into the feasibility of obtaining funding to build a new jail.
President Larry Crowley brought the matter up for discussion at the Board of Supervisors' Jan. 17 meeting. He referred to the report of the January grand jury, which, after inspecting county buildings, found the jail sufficient for the safekeeping of a limited number of prisoners but stated that the county needs a new jail. He also said Sheriff Reuben McCluskey supported building a new one.
Crowley asked Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District if the county could apply for a Community Development Block Grant to build a new jail. Crawford said he did not think the county would qualify for one, explaining that the county is only 39.3 percent low- to moderate-income, while the minimum criteria to be eligible for a CDBG is 51.5 percent. The maximum available block grant is $450,000 and requires a dollar-for-dollar match.
Supervisors discussed the possibility of seeking funding for a new jail through a program sponsored by USDA Rural Development. In 2004, the agency designated Webster County as a pilot county for a community development project that would have maximum impact locally. Rural Development would research available grants for whichever project is selected.
The Community Development Coordinating Council later agreed to pursue funding for a multipurpose building/coliseum, but Supervisor Mart Salley said the county could not afford to maintain such a facility and that a project had never actually been presented.
Supervisors took no formal vote but agreed that the board should inform state Rural Development Director Nick Walters in writing that it had identified a new jail as the county's proposed pilot project. Crawford recommended that a copy of the grand jury report be attached and said a preliminary cost estimate would also be needed.
Crowley acknowledged that even if a grant or grants were secured, the county would probably still have to fund some of the cost itself, possibly through a bond issue.
Also last week, Patsy Patterson, housing specialist with the GTPDD, met with the board. She presented a contract for administrative services concerning HOME Grant funds.
The county has received a $350,000 grant from the HOME Investment Partnership Program through the Mississippi Development Authority to replace five dilapidated houses. The program is funded with federal money from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Crowley informed the board that the state Archives Department did not approve the county's application for a grant to fund Courthouse renovations. This would have involved continued restoration of the courtroom, some of which was done in conjunction with installation of an elevator.
The application also called for counter work in the tax assessor's office to make it more accessible to the public. Tax Assessor-Collector Barbara Gore said she still wanted to have the work done and had obtained an estimate to lower one counter and make another handicapped-accessible.
In other business, supervisors voted to:
enter into revised contract agreements with Robert Willis, who has replaced his father, Jack Willis, as county engineer, on certain state aid projects.
allow Justice Court Clerk Janice Brunty to attend a Feb. 8-10 workshop in Columbus.
allow county Fire Investigator Larry Box to attend a Mississippi Fire Investigators Association workshop in Tunica from March 29-31.
spread on the minutes a certificate received from the state auditor's office. The certificate recognizes the county for maintaining high standards of financial management based on the audit of the county for the year ended Sept. 30, 2004.
approve payments to Parks & Parks Water Well Service, the GTPDD and Calvert-Spradling Engineers to close out the Tomnolen Water Association improvement project.
The board recessed until 8 a.m. Jan. 31.
Post a Comment