Jackson Free Press

Hinds County still doesn't have the money it needs to fix a housing unit at the Raymond Detention Center damaged during an inmate uprising last summer.

That's because FM Global, the county's insurer, never paid Hinds County for the damage and is waiting for the county to demonstrate that it has a contractor lined up that can make the fixes, officials said this morning.

"The insurance company has been very tough with us," Dan Gibson, the county's insurance consultant, told supervisors at this morning's meeting.

In essence, the insurance company will only pay to return the county jail's Pod C to the condition it was in before the August 2012 riot--not to make enhancements, Gibson said.

In all, FM Global is expected to pay the county $1.4 million, officials said. The first part of that sum will be paid when the company is satisfied that county is on track to complete the project on time and within budget guidelines. The company will also reimburse the county for the cost of relocating and housing inmates in other area jails.

The county wants to spend more than $2 million on the project, however. Andrew Jenkins, president of construction-management firm AJA Management & Technical Services, said his company would be able to complete the project within $2.3 million.

Board President and District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham said the board was prepared to give the project a green light as early as the next board meeting April 1.

Also this morning, supervisors permanently hired Tony Gaylor as the board's attorney. Gaylor has served as interim board attorney since last fall following the departure of Crystal Wise Martin.

"It's gonna take a lot of energy (to serve as board attorney)," said District 5 Supervisor Kenneth Stokes. "His work ethic is great. He's trying to do everything he can with a limited staff."

Supervisors approved Gaylord's hire 3-2 with Graham, Stokes and District 2 Supervisor Doug Anderson, who participated via telephone, voting yes. District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher and Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun of District 3 voted no.

Gaylor will be paid $42,000 per year, but his confirmation was not without controversy.

Fisher said Gaylor often gives indirect answers or defers to the Mississippi Attorney General for opinions or information that Fisher believes the board attorney should know off hand.

Calhoun said that according to her interpretation of the Mississippi Constitution, the county cannot employ a full-time board attorney as well as hire an outside legal firm. Gaylord's firm, Gaylord & Chambers, has also represented Hinds County in legal matters.

Hobson-Calhoun directed Gaylord to get an opinion from the attorney general's office to settle the matter.

"There have been several AG's opinions," on the question, Gaylord said.

"Could you get another one?" Hobson-Calhoun asked, which elicited a chuckle from Fisher.