County leaders have rejected a proposal to contract with a national food supplier on a trial basis to provide inmate meals.
Acting Sheriff Andy McCants made the proposal to the Webster County Board of Supervisors on March 18. He recommended that the Sheriff’s Department contract with food service distributor Sysco Corp. to provide meals for inmates instead of buying food at local grocery stores and preparing their meals.
The institutional-type meals could be ordered in bulk online, would be precooked and would only need to be heated up. McCants said the cost per inmate would be $4-$4.50 a day for three meals using this system, compared to $6-$7 a day to buy groceries locally and feed them.
He estimated savings of around $10,000 a year, depending on the number of inmates housed. McCants asked the board to let him try this for six months in an attempt to bring food costs down.
“There’s no jail I know of other than us around here that still buys its own groceries at the store,” he said.
Paul Crowley (District 4) said he felt the county should support local families who are in the grocery business and subsequently made a motion for the process to remain as is. However, board President Pat Cummings said no motion was necessary if no change was going to be made, so no second was given and the discussion ended.
Supervisors also handled other matters concerning the Sheriff’s Department. After first taking it under advisement, they accepted a $6,250 quote from Bill Baker Plumbing and Electric to make plumbing repairs at the jail.
After opening bids for 13 surplus vehicles at the sheriff’s office, the board accepted high bids from Mississippi Demolition for 10 ($3,850 total) and from Larry Edwards for three ($1,950 total).
Other Business
Local agent Sandra Dewberry and Derrick Surrette presented a proposal for renewal of the county’s property and liability insurance with the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust through Dewberry Insurance Agency. Surrette is executive director of MAS.
The board did vote to renew the policy with MASIT for $97,235.99 for one year effective April 1. Although this is up some, Dewberry said the policy provides broader and better coverage.
In other business March 18, the board approved motions to:
• transfer budgeted amounts of money from each road district to the blacktop fund.
• increase the privately owned mileage reimbursement rate paid by the county to the federal rate of 58 cents a mile.
• allow EMA Director Barry Rushing to attend the Mississippi Partners in Preparedness Summit May 6-9 in Biloxi.
• approve the Board of Supervisors, chancery clerk and board attorney attending the MAS annual convention June 9-13 in Biloxi.
• remove a non-functioning Stihl chainsaw and out-of-date 911 equipment of no value from the county inventory.
The board recessed until 8:30 a.m. Friday..
