August 2-- Montgomery County commissioners voted Monday to spend $40,000 to buy a lot adjacent to the county jail in Mount Vernon. Commission chairman Charles Truett says the lot could be used for a new county jail if and when the commissioners decide to build one. They are reviewing a study by the Georgia Sheriff's Association which recommends a 44-bed jail with an estimated construction cost of about $4 million. Meanwhile, Sheriff Clarence Sanders informed the commission he has signed a contract to keep county prisoners in a jail in Irwin County for $45 per day. So far, he's sent ten prisoners there, he says.

Montgomery commissioners also heard a report on the county's annual audit. They were encouraged to set up a system for a monthly review of payroll expenses and the county budget, to reconcile county bank accounts, insure all county agencies have a budget, and use a check and balance system to prevent fraud. In general, the audit showed that expenses have been outpacing revenues for the past few years in the county.

Commissioner Ronnie Smith says he can't see any way around a property tax increase, however, chairman Truett says the commission has just started work on its new budget and "it's too soon to tell."

In other actions, commissioners approved a mobile home ordinance prohibiting mobile homes older than ten years from being located in the county, okayed a sub-division ordinance setting standards for developers, and signed a resolution requesting the state conduct a feasibility study on locating a reservoir in the area. The resolution has also been signed by commissioners in Toombs, Treutlen and Tattnall counties, according to Johnny Clifton of the Montgomery Development Authority.

The commission also heard an appeal for a pay raise for eight employees in the road department, and agreed to work with the city of Mount Vernon on exploring the establishment of an animal shelter.