Pubdate: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 Source: Neshoba Democrat, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Neshoba Democrat Contact: http://www.neshobademocrat.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1774 Author: Debbie Burt Myers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) DRUG COURT GIVEN VERBAL SUPPORT A circuit judge's request for $15,000 to help fund a drug court was met with enthusiasm by the Board of Supervisors as they gave a verbal commitment to the alternative sentencing program. Circuit Court Judge Vernon Cotten appeared before the supervisors seeking to fund a drug court in the 8th Circuit Court District that comprises Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Leake counties. The judge has received similar commitments from all of the counties except Leake, his home county, which he plans to brief on Thursday. A drug court is a special court program that requires nonviolent offenders with drug problems to enter a guilty plea and agree to a four or five year treatment program in which they must go to therapy and hold a job or do community service. The program is aimed at lowering recidivism. Offenders charged with the sale of illicit drugs do not qualify for the program. An offender must have approval from law enforcement and the district attorney before qualifying for the program. A drug court became operational in the 8th Circuit Court District on Jan. 1 without "a penny of money," Cotten said, pointing out that the mood of the district was in support of the program which targets people who are "hopelessly" addicted. "The drug court participants are not dealers or the guy who is trafficking in drugs. He is strictly the user - the person who is addicted to drugs and can't help himself. It could be my son, anybody. It can be just anybody. We are all touched by people who are affected by drugs." Drug court coordinator Marcus Ellis accompanied Cotten to the meeting. "Marcus is working for free," Cotten said. "He is a senior warrant officer, a retired military person. Marcus has a heart for this thing. He wants to give back. He's the glue as far as getting the drug court under way." Cotten said they were visiting with each county and asking supervisors to form a partnership and pledge up to $15,000 to get the drug court operational until funding could be obtained from other sources. Once drug court personnel complete a lengthy training process, Cotten said the program could then be funded, hopefully, through grant money. "I don't want to be apologetic about coming and asking for this because, gentlemen, this is good. It is going to be a savings on the typical person going through drug court compared to the conventional way," he said. It cost about $20,000 a year to house an inmate in a correctional facility in Mississippi, while a person could go through the drug court program which would include treatment for about $2,000. Drug court participates pay a monthly $100 maintenance fee to the court as well as their fine. "The beauty about the drug court is that they are not in jail. They are out there working and paying taxes like we do and taking care of their families," Cotten said. In other action the Board of Supervisors: . Adopted a four-year road plan as presented by each supervisor. . Accepted a recommendation by Sheriff Larry Myers to appoint Heather McAdory and Angel Crockett as shift supervisors at the jail, effective Feb. 5 and Feb. 19, respectively. Their salaries were set at $10.75 an hour. . Accepted a recommendation by the sheriff to appoint Ken Butler of the Choctaw Police Department and Norman Reed and Steve Williams of Choctaw Tribal Security, as deputy sheriffs. These individuals will not receive any compensation but are deputized in an effort to enhance the law enforcement cooperation between the sheriff's department and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. . Reappointed Chief Kenneth Coleman to a five-year term on the board of trustees of the Neshoba County Hospital and Nursing Home. . Appointed Clyde Smith to a five-year term on the Neshoba County Library Board from District 5. . Approved payroll ending Feb. 4 for $133,701.23. . Accepted the recommendation of the county school board and authorized school bus turnarounds in the driveways of Joe Gilmore, 10451 Highway 21 south, Brenda and Bobby Fedrick, 10261 Road 218, and C. R. Franklin at the intersection of Road 210 and Highway 21 south. . Approved a recommendation by the Neshoba County School Board for a 40-year Sixteenth Section land lease for Richard Rickles and his wife, Patty Rickles, on four acres for an initial rent of $325 a year. . Approved a recommendation by the Neshoba County School Board for a 40-year Sixteenth Section land lease for Willie Jr. Griffin and wife, Shirley Ann Griffin, on about one acre for an initial rent of $260 a year. . Authorized payment of registration fees and travel expenses for the chancery clerk and county administrator to attend an education workshop in Jackson March 24 and 25. . Authorized payment of registration fees and travel expenses for the board of supervisors, chancery clerk, county administrator and board attorney to attend an educational seminar in Tunica, June 14-17. . Accepted the recommendation from the county administrator to enter into a service agreement for one year with Benecom to maintain the county's mainframe computer for $4,563. . Entered into a contract with Vital Network to provide NCIC services for one year for the county for $171.60. . Authorized emergency management director Jeff Mayo to apply for a $25,000 equipment grant for communication improvement. . Approved a request of the East Neshoba Fire Protection District to remove items from its inventory that were either lost, no longer used or needed and/or no longer operable. . Accepted $50,000 in grant funds from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to be used solely for improvements in the book selection at the county library. . Authorized $1,500 in postage for general county use and $710.83 for tax assessor/collector's office for solid waste billing. . Designated all county owned buildings as smoke free including, but not limited to, the courthouse annex, justice court, M and S building, coliseum, detention center, senior citizens centers, Department of Human Services and veterans' service office. . Authorized the advertisement of bids for a four-year contract to update and maintain personal property of the county; a three-year maintenance contract for real property; and an update contract for the year 2008 for real property. The bids were returnable to April 19. . Authorized payment of $28,701.05 to Blue Cross/Blue Shield for payment of health insurance for county employees. . Accepted the lowest and best proposal from Parker Sand and Gravel at $3.15 per ton for hauling pea gravel for the park commission. . Accepted the recommendation of the road manager to employ Reynolds Moorehead and Tim Ryals, both at $7.50 an hour; and a pay increase for Charles Chestnut to $7 an hour. . Authorized a payment of $1,734 to Central Water Association to replace cost of materials that were destroyed as a result of the negligence of a county employee. . Designated that all county owned offices and buildings should be open five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and the offices should only be closed on official holidays and other occasions as authorized by law. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom