NATCHEZ &045; In the supervisors’ Monday meeting, Tiger Enterprises and Preferred Services presented supervisors with proposed contracts to provide commissary services for the Adams County Jail.

The proposed commissary would provide items such as toiletries and snacks to inmates.

Inmates’ families would pay money into an account for each inmate, with purchases being debited from the accounts. An officer would keep track of the accounts using computer equipment and software provided by the company.

The county, which now provides such items to inmates through a trust fund set up for that purpose, would still be required by state law to provide such items to inmates whose families could not afford to pay.

Under the Tiger contract, the Sheriff’s Office would mark up the items it received by 30 percent, keeping that mark-up as profit. Under the XXX contract, that mark-up would be 25 percent, said Board Attorney Bob Latham, who reviewed the proposed contracts.

Supervisors authorized Sheriff Ronny Brown to sign a contract with a company of his choosing.

&uot;This’ll save the county money,&uot; Adams County Jail Administrator Maj. Charles Harrigill said.

Later in Monday’s meeting, Supervisor Sammy Cauthen mentioned several bills now before the Legislature that would affect counties, including bills to:

4Provide that mobile home owners do not have to own the land on which their home is located to qualify for homestead exemption.

4Set aside more than $20 million a year from the state’s gaming fund to help fund maintenance of county bridges. The money would be distributed to counties based on a State Aid formula already in place.

4Mandate that counties levy an ad valorem tax to help fund state veterans’ homes.

4Increase from 55 to 60 mills the property tax levy for schools. Lawmakers &uot;are running around up there (in Jackson) saying ‘No new taxes’&uot; while placing unfunded mandates on counties, Cauthen said.

After Cauthen’s presentation, the board voted to send a resolution to local lawmakers, asking for legislation to make Natchez-Adams School Board members elected instead of appointed.

&uot;This would make them more accountable&uot; to their constituents, Cauthen said.

Board President Darryl Grennell noted that the board has asked for the change for several years with no success.

Supervisors will also send a copy of the resolution to Natchez aldermen, asking them to pass and send to lawmakers a similar resolution.

Also in Monday’s meeting:

4Supervisor Sammy Cauthen nominated Dan Bland to fill the now-expired term of John Bergeron on the Natchez Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.

However, Grennell said that was the first he had heard of the vacancy. Supervisors decided to set, at their next meeting, a deadline for submitting nominations.

4The board voted to take under advisement the sole bid for a UHF truck radio system for E-911 &045; a $266,018 bid from Kay Radio.

4The board received quotes for general liability insurance for the Adams County Port. Director Anthony Hauer confirmed those policies do not cover terrorism.

4Grennell told Civil Defense Director George Souderes the county administrator is arranging for the repair of damage done to the Civil Defense Office Friday evening by a sewer backup.

Souderes, who said the problem has happened before, added that tiles are coming loose due to the backup and said carpet may need to be replaced.

4Grennell also told Souderes County Administrator Charles Brown is making arrangements for the relocation of a outdoor warning siren at Seargent S. Prentiss Drive and Liberty Road.

The siren will have to be relocated at an estimated cost of $3,296 due to te construction of a new interchange at the intersection.

4Supervisors voted to approve the a four-year road plan submitted by Road Manager Clarence Jones.