Housing federal inmates at the Lincoln County Jail is expectedto provide over $122,000 a year in revenue for the county,according to a contract approved Monday by the Lincoln County Boardof Supervisors.

The contract with the U.S. Marshal’s Service establishes a$28-a-day reimbursement rate for housing up to 15 federalinmates.

Housing federal inmates at the Lincoln County Jail is expectedto provide over $122,000 a year in revenue for the county,according to a contract approved Monday by the Lincoln County Boardof Supervisors.

The contract with the U.S. Marshal’s Service establishes a$28-a-day reimbursement rate for housing up to 15 federalinmates.

“I hope to have that many all the time,” said Lincoln CountySheriff Lynn Boyte. “Their average stay should be three to fourmonths.”

Monday’s contract cited an annual reimbursement amount of$122,640, which Boyte said was based on an average of 12 prisonersa day. The contract also includes mileage reimbursement of over$11,300 for county law enforcement transporting the federal inmatesto Jackson.

“They will not be on any work crews or anything like that. Theywill be federal prisoners only,” Boyte said.

Boyte also updated supervisors on efforts to house state inmatesin the county jail. The state reimbursement rate would be around$20 a day for Class A trustys.

“It would be people serving time for non-violent offenses only,”Boyte said, adding that the prisoners could be assigned to countywork or supervisors crews as another benefit of housing them in thejail.

Boyte said he had spoken with state officials last week and hadbeen assured the county would be getting some state inmates.

“At least, we’re closer to it than we’ve ever been,” Boytesaid.

Boyte said 50 city and county inmates were being housed in the120-inmate jail. The federal and state inmates would about about 30to that total.

“That would still leave us 40 for handling our in and outstuff,” Boyte said.

In other sheriff’s department matters, Boyte told supervisors hehad developed a rank structure within the department. He indicatedthe structure establishes some decision-making authority with theNarcotics Division, deputy patrol shifts and other areas.

“Of course, anything major would still have to come through me,”Boyte said.

Boyte also asked supervisors to consider next year funding forleasing new patrol vehicles. Currently, he said vehicle repairscost between $200-$300.

“We don’t have that kind of money in our budget for that,” saidBoyte, while also mentioning time lost when a vehicle in in theshop for repairs.

In other action Monday, supervisors:

* Approved a $17,546 emergency purchase to replace an airconditioning compressor that broke Friday. County AdministratorTillmon Bishop said officials were looking at ways of improving thegovernment complex air conditioning situation until the compressorwent out and needed replacement.

The purchase was not budgeted, but supervisors said there was noother option.

“You don’t have any choice. You either leave it off or fix it,”said District 3 Supervisor Nolan Earl Williamson.

* Approved a $75,000 contract with Reid Herring and Associatesfor maintenance of property tax rolls next year. Maintenanceincludes making sure property values are up to date and within fairmarket value.

* Authorized the county’s two constables to have cellulartelephones. Cost would come out of the constables’ budget.

* Hired Tommy Sanders to replace Clyde Ellzey as the courthousemaintenance supervisors. Ellzey is retiring in June after 21years.