Lamar County B.O.S approve morgue and transportation upgrades

LAMAR COUNTY, Miss. - The Lamar County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a morgue building and transportation service Monday.

The paid-off county owned building is located on Central Industrial Row. County Administrator Jody Waits said the county will initially spend $30,000.

"A county of our size and our resource should have a morgue and should do our own transportation" said Waits.

In previous years the county utilized third parties for assistance. Lamar county Coroner Cody Creel said, "We'll be able to keep it all under one roof." He added, "It is also going to save funds just being able to do it ourselves instead of outsourcing everything."

Waits added, "We'll purchase a van which be in the mid-twenties, we have to purchase some refrigeration units which will be $5,000."

"There may be other purchases to buy, $30,000 is the number we are working with" said Waits.

After the initial costs, the cost to maintain the morgue and transportation services is not high at all. "After that the operating costs will simply be gas for the vehicle, maintenance to the vehicle, and electricity for the morgue" added Waits.

Since Creel took office in January he said he pushed for the county's own resources. "It sets our county above and beyond" said Creel.

"There is not many counties in the state that have their own morgue facility" added Creel.

He continued, "With the number of residents we have and the number of cases we have every year, I feel like it is a benefit here to the citizens."

The board said they anticipate the morgue to operate in 30 days.