The Lauderdale County Detention Center could be getting new retro-fitting LED lighting under a proposal by Sheriff Billy Sollie and Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun.

    “This would upgrade the lighting system in the jail,” Sollie told members of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors during a work session last Thursday.

    Calhoun said the county first looked at lighting improvements at the jail in 2013.

    “Since then, the cost to improve the lighting with these new LED lights has decreased,” Calhoun said. “Mississippi Power is offering a rebate program. That will help. Secondly, the LEDs don’t burn as hot as the old lights do. The decrease in heat would allow us to save on air conditioning costs.”

    Calhoun said the Sheriff’s Department will ask the board to authorize County Administrator David Engel to put out bids for the new LED lights.

    “We think we can save a lot of money with the rebate dollars, the lower utility costs for the time being before they will rise again, and the cooling costs,” Calhoun said.

    Sollie also asked for board approval on two state-wide grants for 2015-16. The first is the Occupant Protection Grant and the second is the DUI Grant. Sollie there is no match for either grant and that the state will pick up 100 percent of the cost.

    Sollie said six detention officers have resigned and three new ones: Jonathan Leslie, David Hampton and Johnny Shoemaker have been hired at $10.51 an hour. Amy Presley has been hired as a Civilian Tower Operator.