Concerns over the jail’s food service, ownership of a section ofBrookway Boulevard and a decision on national forest revenue planshighlighted a rather routine Lincoln County Board of Supervisorsmeeting Monday.

Supervisors and Sheriff Lynn Boyte discussed the jail foodsituation with Paul Brock, owner of Chef’s Delight.

“We seem to be having a few problems with our catering servicedown in the jail,” said Board President W.D. “Doug” Moak.

Boyte said inmate complaints included food not being properlycooked, their being tired of bologna sandwiches, and not everyonegetting the same portion of food.

“That blows their minds, and they can’t deal with it and we havetrouble,” Boyte said about the inequitable distribution offood.

Boyte also relayed incidents when not enough servings weredelivered to feed the jail population. He mentioned incidents wherehe had purchased food out of his own pocket to make up thedifference.

Brock said he was “very concerned” to hear officials’complaints. He promised to look into the situation.

“Everybody’s supposed to get the same amount of food,” Brocksaid.

Brock speculated the food shortages may be employee-related. Hesaid a meeting would be held with his workers Monday afternoon.

“The ones that can’t follow orders, I don’t need them,” Brocksaid.

Chef’s Delight has been providing meals for the jail sinceFebruary. Boyte said the service got off to a good start.

“When we first started this, people down there were tickled todeath with the food,” Boyte said.

Following Brock’s assurances, Moak said supervisors and thesheriff would monitor the situation for 30 days.

“We’d sure like to see some improvement,” Moak said. “If wedon’t, we may to look somewhere else.”

OWNERSHIP ISSUES

Who owns Brookway Boulevard?

It’s a question that appears to have threeanswers.

Following earlier city-raised questions about ownership,Engineer Carl Ray Furr said it is “very clear” the city owns thesection between Highway 51 and Monticello Street. It is also clearthat the state owns the section from Interstate 55 around to ZetusRoad.

Ownership of the section between Highway 51 andInterstate 55 appears a little less clear. In his research of theroad and its construction, Furr said he found an agreement for thestate to purchase right of way and then deed to the county for itto maintain.

“The county has title to that land and it’s never beendeeded to somebody else,” Furr said.

However, Furr said the city has been maintaining thesection for a number of years. Furr, who is engineer for the countyand the city, said his recommendation will be for the county toclean up the title, deed the section to the city and for the cityto accept it.

“I think they’ve got a record of maintaining it,” Furrsaid about city action.

Supervisors took no action on the matter Monday. Furrwas expected to discuss the situation with cityofficials.

FOREST FUNDS

Also Monday, supervisors approved a national forest revenue planthat will provide the county with approximately $100,000 a year forthe new six years.

Counties that have parts of national forests in their bordersare entitled to 25 percent of revenue when timber is harvested fromthe forest. The decision before supervisors was whether to lock inthe $101,000 payment for six years or base funding on the amount oftimber activity done over the same period.

With uncertainty over the timber future, board members opted forthe level funding amount which is split between the county andcounty school district. Under that plan, 15 percent of the totalmust go to the cooperative extension service for forestryeducation.

“Fifteen percent of that can be used for a lot of good things,”Moak said.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business Monday, supervisors:

* Held a private way hearing for Chuck Magee, whose propertynear Highway 51 in Bogue Chitto is landlocked and has been unableto work out an access agreement with surrounding landowners.Supervisors have been asked to determine a means of access and,after an inspection of the property, could make a decision at theirOct. 1 meeting.

* Heard a request from Solid Waste Coordinator Ronnie Durr forhim to go on private property to clean up illegal dumps. Countyofficials discussed working within current solid waste provisionsto accommodate Durr’s efforts.

“It’s a nuisance and they just linger there,” Durr said aboutillegal dumps.

* Took no action on District 1 Supervisor Cliff Givens’ requestto exempt citizens 80 years or older from county garbage fees. Tocover rising garbage pick up costs, supervisors recently voted toraise the monthly fee from $7.50 to $9 a month.

“We’ve got to get the money from somewhere,” Givens agreed, buthe urged fellow board members to exempt those over 80 yearsold.

Other supervisors, though, were hesitant. They raised questionsabout record keeping and how the exemptions would be handled inhouseholds that have others in addition to the person over age80.

“There’s a lot of things you’ve got to look at,” Moak said.