State's bill for inmate housing long overdue

By By Chris Allen Baker / staff writer
March 26, 2002
The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors put state government on notice Monday that its bill for housing state inmates at the county jail is long overdue.
Supervisors said they will ask the state Legislature to pay the Mississippi Department of Corrections' bill directly about $322,080 for housing of state inmates and $92,000 in medical expenses. They said bills have gone unpaid since September.
Sheriff Billy Sollie told supervisors last week that the situation can't continue.
Supervisor gets new car
Supervisors voted 3-2 to allow District 2 Supervisor Jimmie Smith to buy a 2002 model car. The car Smith currently drives, a 2001 model, will go to his county patrolman whose car was totaled in an accident.
The board did not say what kind of car would be bought.
Voting to allow the purchase were: Smith; Hank Florey, District 1; and Q.V. Sykes, District 4. Florey said he supported Smith's request because supervisors passing cars down to their employees is a usual practice.
Voting against were Craig Hitt of District 3 and Ray Boswell of District 5. Boswell said he did not see the need.
In other matters:
At their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors also:
Tabled appointment of a deputy medical examiner;
Voted to contract with Delta Computer Systems to make county records available online. The cost is a one-time set-up fee of $3,500 and $200 a month; and
Voted 3-2 to make a cabin at Q.V. Sykes Recreational Complex handicapped-accessible for $2,300, and voted 3-2 to take consideration of a petting zoo at the complex under advisement.