NATCHEZ — Adams County is negotiating a franchise agreement with AT&T, which plans to expand its U-verse service to the county.

The county elected to use a consultant to review and negotiate the agreement, and Adams County Board of Supervisors Attorney Scott Slover said at Monday’s board meeting the fee for the services of consultant Greg Fender of Georgia-based Local Government Services would be no more than $4,500.

Local Government Services previously negotiated the county’s contract with Cable ONE.

Supervisor David Carter said he has received calls and emails from angry residents who were reportedly told by AT&T that the company was ready to provide service to residents but could not because the county had not approved the agreement.

“(The residents) all think this board doesn’t want to give them Internet service,” he said. “I had two emails this morning about why are we refusing to let them get the service they want.”

Carter wanted to ensure residents that is not the case and asked that Walker ensure AT&T representatives weren’t telling residents that.

Slover said the county conducted the same kind of contract review and negotiations with Cable ONE.

The proposed agreement from AT&T is different than the one with Cable ONE, Slover said, which is why the county cannot quickly approve it.

The purpose of the franchise agreement is to set up a vehicle through which the county can be paid fees for AT&T’s video service, AT&T Executive Director of External Affairs Mike Walker said after the meeting.

Cable ONE pays similar fees to the county through its franchise agreement.

The agreement with AT&T requires careful review, Slover said, because if Cable ONE believes the county approves an agreement with AT&T that is more favorable than the Cable ONE agreement, it could result in a lawsuit.

AT&T is working to provide service to the Beau Pré area and plans to expand its services throughout the county, Walker said.

U-verse provides TV, Internet and phone service.

Walker said AT&T’s strategy is to eventually offer service to the entire county either through fiber, cable or through a wireless connection from the company’s cell towers.

Walker said AT&T believes it can offer service in Adams County without a franchise agreement through legal precedence already set.

Slover said he does not know if that is the case and questioned why AT&T would offer to pay franchise fees if they could provide service without an agreement with the county.

In other news from the meeting:

• Carter asked Slover whether the county had received a financial update from Natchez Regional Medical Center, which the county is in the process of selling.

As part of the agreement to the $1.5 million line of credit recently extended to the county-owned hospital, NRMC is to provide United Mississippi Bank and the supervisors weekly updates on its finances.

Slover said Monday afternoon no update had been provided by the hospital, but said he had spoken to NRMC attorney Walter Brown, who was going to send it.

• The supervisors observed a moment of silence for Charles Kenneth Jordan, owner of Jordan Carriers, who died Sunday.

• County Administrator Joe Murray reported 150 of the 500 households in the county’s recycling pilot program recycled on the first day of the program last week.

“For the first time … I think that’s a pretty good effort,” he said.

The supervisors agreed they expect participation to increase as the program continues.