NATCHEZ — Though Adams County supervisors stressed they’re committing to nothing now, the county adopted Monday a resolution seeking permission to build a jail outside the Natchez city limits.

Sheriff Travis Patten presented the resolution seeking local-and-private legislation from the state Legislature, saying it was essentially a follow-up to a court order issued to the previous administration.

The order — issued by circuit court judges Forrest “Al” Johnson and Lillie Blackmon Sanders instructing the county to find out what needs to be done to determine the future of the aging Adams County Jail facility — was handed down in June 2014.

The jail, officials said at the time, is not up to current correctional standards. Since then, some work has been done on the facility to address the most immediate problems.

Board Attorney Scott Slover said the resolution or legislation coming out of it would not be binding on the county, but the language would allow for the construction of a new jail anywhere in the county. By law, the county jail is currently required to be located within the boundaries of the county seat.

Board President Mike Lazarus said the resolution is to address that particular issue, “if and when we decide to build (a new jail).”

“We are trying to keep up with any upkeep we can do to keep limping along until we can find a funding source,” he said.

Johnson was in attendance at the meeting, and voiced his support for the resolution, which had at that point already been passed.

“It obligates the county to nothing, but it keeps it open, because at some point Adams County will need a new jail,” he said.

In other news:

4The board adopted an ordinance that will penalize those who use personal vehicles to damage county property.

The first offense would result in up to a $500 fine, and subsequent offenses could garner as much as a $1,000 fine.

The vehicle in question would also be impounded for 15 days for the first offense and 30 days for each offense afterward.

Carter first proposed the ordinance after a number of county ditches and rights-of-way were damaged by area youths who used them for racing and subsequently turned them into churned up mud pits. The Kingston ballpark was likewise damaged.

“We found the ones we thought were doing it, and it has slowed down since it started, but we need something with teeth in it should it start back again,” he said. “If you are in one of our ball fields cutting donuts, that takes a little more to fix.”

When some board members raised the possibility that youth drivers could be borrowing the vehicles they use to damage the county property, Lazarus said he still believes a penalty should be attached.

“You are responsible for your kids at the end of the day,” he said.

4Carter said the board will seek requests for proposals from ambulance companies that want to operate in Adams County.

In many counties, ambulance services are required to operate under something similar to a franchise agreement with the local government. Adams County does not currently require that.

Carter said the request for proposals will ask potential ambulance services to detail their cost of services, experience and labor force needed to respond in Adams County, plans for response time to different parts of the county and any certifications or advanced medical services they can offer.