Supervisors hear jail presentations

The Webster Progress-Times

WALTHALL - Supervisors heard from more firms last week offering their services for design and construction of a new jail.

G.G. Ferguson of Madison, president of Ferguson and Associates Architects, and David Deaton with Southeastern Composite Systems (Secomps) of Belmont made one of the Oct. 5 presentations.

Secomps specializes in constructing low-maintenance dome jails made from reinforced fiberglass that are manufactured in Tishomingo County. The pre-fab structures have an energy-efficient, corrosion-free composite exterior and their design will provide savings in utility and maintenance costs, according to Ferguson and Deaton.

Ferguson presented a design for a "Webster County Detention Facility" that would provide 54 total inmate beds at an estimated cost of $2.5 million, and would allow for a 24- to 48-bed expansion

Elizabeth Noblin, David Dean and Bill Lack with Dean and Dean/Associates Architects of Jackson also introduced themselves and offered their jail design services. The Board of Supervisors, which has budgeted slightly more than $2 million over two years for a new jail, took no action after hearing the presentations.

Jobs Program

Also last week, Joann Potts of Prairie Opportunity Inc. asked the county to partner with the community action agency to place clients in a program designed to reduce the unemployment rate.

Eligible people could be hired for county jobs up to six months (possibly longer) through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act Community Service Block Grant program at no cost to he county. Clients have to meet income guidelines and would be paid minimum wage without benefits as contractual support staff.

Grant administrator George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District reported that the Mt. Zion Water Association had to shut down a well last month after a pressure tank cracked.

At his request, the board voted to apply for an emergency Community Development Block Grant through the PDD on behalf of the association for repair of the well.

Crawford also reported that the state aid division of the state Transportation Department has programmed the Hawkeye Glove access road project for construction.

Jail, Fire

Contracts

Supervisors voted to enter into jail contracts to provide jail services to the city of Eupora (see related article), town of Mathiston and town of Maben for $25 a day for this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.

They also voted to enter into fire contracts with local volunteer fire departments on the same terms and conditions as last year for October-September.

Suit Settled

Board attorney Buchanan Meek Jr. informed the board that the case of Latisha S. Pittman vs. Webster County had been settled for $15,000. The board approved a motion in July agreeing to a settlement of the false arrest case at the discretion of United National Insurance Co., which is the law enforcement carrier for the county.

Pittman had filed a federal lawsuit against the county for negligence, arrest without probable cause and wrongful imprisonment. She was arrested by a former deputy in April 2008 on a charge of selling drugs but was released and advised that all charges were being dismissed after 1 1/2 days in jail.

Other Meetings

In previous meetings, James Williams and John Nichols of Nichols and Associations addressed the board Sept. 21 concerning long-term care insurance.

Minutes of the board's Sept. 30 meeting show that supervisors voted to:

¥ accept a $35,000 grant from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety, Department of Public Safety Planning for the hiring of a DUI officer for Webster County.

¥ hire Perry Yates as a part-time deputy.

¥ allow Circuit Clerk Deborah Hood Neal and Deputy Clerk Wanda Robinson to attend a Statewide Elections Management System training class, which was Oct. 5 in Jackson.

¥ allow Sheriff's Department dispatcher Christine Denley to attend TAC officer training school Oct. 19-23 in Pearl.

¥ allow interim E-911 Director Jimmy McLemore to attend a training seminar Oct. 19-21 in Tunica.

The board meets again at 8:30 a.m. Monday.