The big business to come before the Simpson County Board of Supervisors last week was the approval of a bid for the latest bridge project in Simpson County.
The location of the box bridge culvert is on Shorter Road, and it is officially referred to as LSBP 6424. Bids ranged from a high of $686,429.30 to a low of $501,078.25 with an engineer’s initial estimate of $580,707.90.
The bid was awarded to R & C Services of Jackson. Seven contractors offered bids for the project.
Road Manager Ben Warren reported to the board that rock and tar projects were about 75 percent complete for this season with weather being the biggest deterent to completion. Warren reported that Damian McRae had completed six-month probation. The board approved damage to a vehicle belonging to Durwood Magee for window damage. the board also agreed to repair a door glass broken by county work at a trailer in New Hebron. The board instructed Warren to advise employees not to bushhog near vehicles or residences.
The boared discussed the recent flooding at D’Lo Water Park. Typically, the water does not flood until it reaches a height of 30 feet; however, with the last storm it flooded at 25. There could have been a number of contributing factors to include the resevior releases on the Pearl as well as overflowing tributaries north of the park. Contact was to made with Mississippi Department of Transporation to help make a determination as to the flooding.
There was discussion about ditching along roads which are still being resurfaced. An issue arised over property along the Heed Neely Road and a comitment by the county to replace a fence from an earlier right-of-way agreement. The county said they had agreed to the fence replacement and indicated their obligation to do so.
Real Pure Bottling Company requested an additional exemption on tax exemption. They have been granted a five-year exemption. The total if approved would be $9,801,000 over the next five years. The request was tabled until additional information was discussed. The board approved contracting for the period of one year an appraiser for the tax assessor’s office. There have been interviews however an experienced candidate had not been located.
Because of the lack of being able to get contractors to show up the county has been attempting to get the roof on the Chancery Court House, the orginal court house. They are planning to do a sole source bid in that competitive bids are unavailble. They are also taking bids on a camera system for jail, as well as a E 9-11 system and Fiber Optic connections for the system.
The county took no action on the air ambulance service offered last board meeting to the county from PHI Air Ambulance service. The bid was $67,529 per year. There is currently discussion about increasing the garbage fees for residents in the county since there are increased expenses in services offered. The fee for disposal has also increased for the county.
The board agreed to pass a resolution in rememberance of Randy Sandifer who recently died. He was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and resident of Simpson County.
The board approved hiring Christopher Cook in the jail as a full-time hire. Casey Bowen as part-time, certified dispatcher and Michaela Smith as non-ceritified dispatcher.
The board approved hiring April Bryant as Guardian Ad Litem for Chancery Court.
The board approved the lease purchase of a 2023 Kenworth Dumptruck through Trustmark at 3.3 percent monthly payment and balloon note $145,000 in August 2023.
Dumping fees increased from $25.21 per ton to $29.50. Those fees will be passed on to Magee and Mendenhall who provide their own service.
The board approved payment to ABM Contracting for $460,835.91. This is the entergy savings plan the county is contracting to reduce operational costs for the county through utilities and other cost saving measures for the county. The savings are recapped through actual expenses of the county through the contract with ABM.
The next scheduled meeting of the board is set for Thursday, September 15 as a budget and tax hearing for 2023.
