Law enforcement matters highlighted a rather routine LincolnCounty Board of Supervisors meeting Monday.

Several jail cell beds will be getting new mattresses afterSheriff Lynn Boyte and Jail Administrator Tommy Allison receivedboard approval to purchase 24 new mattresses. The cost is $87each.

“The ones we’ve requested are seamless and won’t tear,” Allisonsaid.

Allison showed supervisors an example of the current mattressesused and padding that had been removed from one mattress. Officialswere unsure how old the mattresses were.

Board Attorney Bob Allen also pointed out requirements ofjail-related items and legal issues.

“They’ve got to be flame-retardant and approved,” Allensaid.

In funding matters, Boyte said requests for pre-employmentscreening by businesses are increasing and asked if there was a wayto charge for the service.

“It may be some way we can recoup some of our expenses,” Boytesaid.

Boyte said his department had been doing the screenings as acomplimentary service and speculated that was the reason for theincreasing number of requests. He said there sometimes 15-20requests a day.

Allen said law enforcement is required to do screenings forteachers, kindergarten workers and nursing home employees. However,it was not required for some other businesses and Allen said a feecould probably be charged.

The attorney was expected to research a fee schedule and informthe sheriff of his findings.

In another funding matter, Boyte said his department recentlyreceived a $47,000 reimbursement payment from the MississippiDepartment of Corrections for the local jail’s housing of stateinmates. The sheriff said that makes the account current as ofJanuary, but the state is still several months behind inreimbursement.

Also Monday, County Engineer Carl Ray Furr updated supervisorson several county projects.

The engineer said it appears the county will have about $75,000remaining from a state capital improvement loan after paying forNorth Jackson Street traffic signal improvements and aManufacturer’s Boulevard turn lane. The county got the loan to payits portion of part of the costs for the Industrial Park Roadoverpass, but there was some leftover funds and the county was ableto use the money for related projects.

“We did real good,” Furr said about the overpass and otherwork.

It was not known if or how the remaining funds would bespent.

Furr also advised supervisors to begin planning its request forfederal funding assistance for Government Complex improvements anda Bogue Chitto community center project. Both projects werediscussed during county officials’ recent trip to Washington tovisit with the state’s congressional delegation.

“We need to get our requests in and be ready to do some thingsby this time in January,” Furr said.