By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
June 5, 2001
Lauderdale County supervisors approved a grant application Monday that could give senior citizens new fluorescent mailbox numbers and door peepholes.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie had discussed the triad grant, administered through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Planning, with supervisors at a work session last week.
Not having numbers next to roadways can often delay ambulance personnel, firefighters and law enforcement officials, he said.
To be eligible for the grant, the triad group must form a council. Sollie said the local council is made up of the Meridian and Marion police departments, the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department and the American Association for Retired Persons. It's called SALT Seniors and Law Enforcement Together.
Funding for the grant comes from citations issued which lead to convictions. For each citation resulting in conviction, $1 goes into a separate fund. The council can then apply for money out of the fund to benefit senior citizens.
Lauderdale County would be eligible for $3,000 the first year of the program, and could receive up to $5,000 the second year and $8,000 the third, depending on the community's success in working together, Sollie said.
Sollie said about 200 homes could benefit from the grant without donations and additional homes could be served if donations come in.
He said he expects to know by the end of June whether the grant will be awarded. The first year's funding could come as early as July. No matching funds are required.
People receiving the E-911 numbers must go through an application process. The SALT council will determine who gets new address numbers and Sollie's department will do monthly reports and account for money spent.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.