When the sweltering temperatures of summertime in Mississippi roll around, the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center will be ready.
The county has received a grant to help pay to install new air-conditioning units.
Funding for the new units comes courtesy of the stimulus package signed last year by President Barack Obama.
“The facility has been open for 10 years, and some of the units need to be replaced,” Lowndes County Sheriff Butch Howard said. “We are replacing eight units, and the cost is about $77,500, which will be taken care of by the grant funds,” Howard said.
Also, new fluorescent lighting will be installed to make the facility more energy efficient, he said.
County Administrator Ralph Billingsley said the county received an allocation of $256,500 from the stimulus program, and is geared to help local county facilities become more energy efficient.
“We received this amount based on population in the county. This is part of an energy-efficiency program from the Department of Energy,” he said.
An energy audit was conducted by representatives of Tennessee Valley Authority at the jail as well as the new administration building, which also determined the amount the county received.
“We were awarded the money on Dec. 22. We are also planning to add fluorescent lighting to the new administration building,” Billingsley said.
He added the county is making sure they clear all necessary hurdles and governmental red tape to get the funding.
Billingsley is hopeful work on installing the new lighting and air conditioning units can begin near the end of February.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
