By Billy Davis

Panola County supervisors on Monday approved the purchase of a security fence at the sheriff’s department, concluding a long-running issue over securing state inmates.

The county board unanimously approved the purchase of fencing materials, from the county’s general fund, at a cost of $7,263.

Inmate labor will erect the fence, with oversight provided by an employee of Sideline Fence Co.

Sheriff Otis Griffin made the request, which dates back to the December 2009 escape of two trusties from an unsecured building. The escapees, who were sent to Parchman prison after they were caught, participated in the Joint State County Program.

Griffin had asked supervisors, in January, to erect 1,600 feet of fencing around the building and also the grounds of the jail at a cost of $23,637, the lowest of two bids. But the sheriff agreed to scale back that request after supervisors, wary of budget constraints, asked him to do so.

In February, an attorney who advocates for state inmates advised supervisors to erect the fence but cautioned them against locking the doors to the building.  

At the Monday meeting, Griffin said the new lower cost would pay to secure the work program building as well as another portion of perimeter fencing.

He showed the fence plans to board president Gary Thompson, who commented that the county “needs to get this in the works.”

Thompson then urged the county board to accept the purchase from the general fund, citing a pair of automobiles that were donated to the county from Griffin.

Thompson pointed out that the county appraiser is driving one of the vehicles in lieu of a mileage reimbursement.

“That’s saving the county $600 a month,” Thompson told his colleagues.

County Administrator Kelley Magee said the second vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala, is used by county employees to run errands.

Thompson’s comments came after Griffin said in past months the sheriff’s department would pay for the new fencing, which was then triple the cost of the newest quote.

The sheriff had stated plans to auction confiscated automobiles to raise a portion of the funds.

The board’s action Monday was observed by sheriff’s candidate Phillip Herron, who has been attending county meetings for several months, and by sheriff’s candidate Dennis Darby, who was attending his first.

Griffin has also qualified to run for re-election in November.