CHARLESTON -- Outsourcing food service at the Mississippi County Detention Center will save taxpayers money while not cutting any jobs, according to county officials.
"We finally got a contract for ABL food services," Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore announced during Thursday's County Commission meeting.
Commissioners signed a one-year contract with ABL Management of Baton Rouge, La., a company that specializes in food service including service for correctional facilities.
Moore said his food service costs were already relatively low but after negotiating with ABL for a couple of months has a contact with a sliding cost ranging from $2.12 to $2.80 per meal, depending on the number of meals served.
"What he's done is figure out a way to save the county $80,000," said Carlin Bennett, presiding county commissioner.
Moore said the three full-time and one part-time workers his Department employs at the Detention Center to prepare adult and juvenile prisoner meals will fill out applications for the same jobs but as employees of ABL Management who has assured they will be hired.
"My whole objective was: nobody had to lose a job," he said. "I think it will be good for those people and I think their hourly wages will be better."
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