Supervisors consider funds for Arts and Entertainment Center

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 17, 2003
Lauderdale County supervisors are expected to consider a request today from the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center for $150,000.
Members of the center's board of directors asked supervisors for the money during their work session last week. A similar request is scheduled to go before the Meridian City Council on Tuesday.
The money is to be used for preliminary site design, permits and engineering work for the center that is planned for Bonita Lakes. The total estimated cost to build the center is $54.5 million over a six-year period.
The board of supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. in the board room of the Raymond P. Davis Courthouse Annex at 410 21st Ave.
Other items expected to be discussed include authorization for the county to renew an employment assistance program with Weems Community Mental Health Center and a request from Metro Ambulance to advertise for two used ambulances.
Last week, District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt told fellow supervisors that he will look into Grenada County's privately contracted jail system when he is there over the Thanksgiving holidays.
Hitt serves as board of supervisors president.
He said privatizing the jail is just an idea at this point.
Supervisors also briefly discussed last week scheduling a meeting with Lauderdale County Tax Assessor Jimmy Slay.
Supervisors denied his request last month to contract real property appraisals and recommended he hire two people to replace certified real property appraisers who recently worked in the office. One worker quit. The other was fired.