Pubdate: Sat, 01 May 2004
Source: Natchez Democrat, The (MS)
Copyright: 2004 Natchez Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2205
Author: Julie Finley, The Natchez Democrat

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WON'T PAY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE RENT

NATCHEZ -- The Adams County Board of Supervisors is waiting on money
from the city that the city says isn't coming.

According to County Administrator Charlie Brown the city owes the
county more than a year's worth of rent for the building currently
occupied by Metro Narcotics.

Brown said the county has been paying $2,000 a month for over a year,
but based on an earlier agreement the city should be paying half of
that amount.

City Clerk Donnie Holloway said the city agreed to a one-year
contract, which was up in 2003.

"We took it out of our budget last year," Holloway said. "We just
don't have the money."

Metro Narcotics, a unit supervised by the sheriff's office, includes
officers from the Natchez Police Department, the Adams County
Sheriff's Office and the state bureau of narcotics. The unit has its
own commander, Cliff Cox, who works with Sheriff Ronny Brown and
Police Chief Mike Mullins on a regular basis.

Eight employees work out of the office located in the Mulhearn
building, formerly occupied by an attorney.

Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said Metro Narcotics
was a joint effort between the city and county.

"The city is behind on their rent," Grennell said. "I was under the
impression that it (the agreement) was perpetual as long as we were
under the lease."

The lease of the building is under the county's name.

Grennell said the city and county agreed to move into the current
location due to problems with the old location in the city's Council
Chambers building. The city did not charge the county rent for use of
that space.

"There were severe problems with leaks in the roof, computers being
ruined and mold growing in the area," Grennell said. "(Former Sheriff
Tommy) Ferrell requested to be relocated because of the rain coming
into the facility."

Grennell said the next step was to get the city to pay what was owed.
He also said he was willing to try to get out of the current lease and
relocate to the newly renovated office in the Council Chambers.

Charlie Brown said he had written two letters to the mayor and board
of alderman but had received no response.

"I wish they would just tell me why they aren't paying," Brown
said.

Mullins and Ronny Brown said they were happy with the cooperation
between the agencies.

"We are all working together," Brown said. "Me and Mike and Cliff meet
once a month and he shows us what he is doing."

Metro Narcotics handles all felony drug cases, while the agencies
handle their own misdemeanors.

Ronny Brown said the salaries of the sheriff's deputies who work at
Metro Narcotics are paid through a grant. The unit also receives some
money seized in drug busts, after it clears the court system.

NPD provides two officers and two vehicles to the unit as well as the
equipment the officers use.

City Attorney Walter Brown said there are a number of city/county
issues similar to this one that need to be worked out.

"In July both boards need to meet and resolve all these issues," Brown
said. "Metro Narcotics comes up every year and it will come up again." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake