[5/20/04]Vicksburg’s building inspector said he wants a look inside the Warren County Jail after receiving a complaint from a former inmate there.

It is unusual for the municipal government to inspect county buildings, but is within the city’s authority, said Victor Gray-Lewis, director of building and inspections. That department is charged with inspecting buildings for safety and code violations.

Gray-Lewis has sent a letter to Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace who is, by law, the official in charge of the jail, seeking a time to conduct an inspection.

“It is the goal of the building and inspection department to inspect all buildings, residential and non-residential, to ensure that these minimum standards are in place,” Gray-Lewis wrote.

Brenda Dixon wrote the letter complaining about the condition of the jail on Grove Street. In her letter published May 5, Dixon said the jail was in violation of fire, safety and health regulations. She did not cite specific violations.

Dixon, 34, was held in the Warren County jail for two months after her arrest here. She is accused of capital murder in Florida and has been returned there to face charges.

Pace said he has not received Gray-Lewis’ letter, but that the jail is regularly inspected by the state and is accredited by the Department of Corrections. In addition to DOC, the State Health Department and fire marshal regularly inspect the jail, he said.

The three-story jail, completed about 1980, is also visited by members of each grand jury panel and is under federal court orders to maintain standards regarding space and comfort of those who are confined.

“He’s welcome to inspect the jail,” Pace said of the city inspector.

Mayor Laurence Leyens said that as far as he knows, the city has never inspected any county buildings, but should.

“There’s no political intention here. It’s strictly the right thing to do,” Leyens said.

Charles Selmon, president of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said he doesn’t have a problem with the city staff’s inspecting county buildings as long as they also inspect city buildings. Selmon also said he had not seen the letter.

“They may have a different motive here than what is stated in the letter, but that’s fine. We don’t have anything to hide,” Selmon said.

Gray-Lewis said a building would not usually be inspected unless it has a new owner or a complaint is filed. He said there are no regular inspection procedures for city buildings, but that the city is looking at compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and inspects all new city construction.

“We issue permits for city work now, which is something that used to not happen,” he said.