Monday’s meeting of the Simpson County Board of Supervisors was somewhat typical, business as usual.
One of the most important issues was the annual appropriation of $25,000 each for the county’s seven fire departments. This is part of their annual funding that allows them to purchase equipment and other vital materials needed in order to keep the county safe.
John Kilpatrick, Emergency Management Director, updated the county with on-going services. He reported that a large amount of payroll funding had been filed for the county to be reimbursed by the federal government. This is part of the benefit of the CARES Act funds that the county qualifies for.
Kilpatrick told the supervisors that a total of 1,181 emergency calls had been received in the county for the period of October 15 through November 15. This was down from last year when the total was 1,381 for the same period.
He reported that county fire departments, which do not include the cities of Magee or Mendenhall, had responded to four structure fires. Calls were answered at SCR 503, Barney Banks Road, Braswell Road and McLaurin Road.
Kilpatrick continues to report good services through the new ambulance provider, ASAP, with their responding to 281 of the emergency calls. They made 175 transfers with 77 being transported out of county.
He also reported to the supervisors that Emergency Management Services has a good supply of Covid-19 supplies if the need arises for their use.
The board voted to approve the extension of emergency matters; first the extension of bridge repair, and secondly, the emergency order extension of Covid-19 response. Both extensions allow for quicker response time as issues arise, as well as allowing response between board meetings.
County Road Manager Ben Warren re-introduced the issue of how much the county is willing to spend on assisting land owners with access to their property by providing culverts. This was more specifically geared toward the cost of culverts and installation. He suggested to the board that $1,000 be the limit of value the county could provide.
The problem is that the county has no mechanism to charge for the difference to residents if work done exceeds that amount. He said this amount represents a 24 foot culvert and three loads of gravel and the labor time associated. No final decision was made regarding this issue.
Warren told the supervisors that the road department is currently ditching roads and repairing potholes because of the current warm, dry weather. When questioned about the recent purchase of a spray rig for the county he reported that the department had done a 10-mile stretch of brush and overhang in the county right-of-way.
The board approved additional training time for election workers to another four-hour period for training. The reason is that the pay of $12 per hour is making it difficult to find workers when additional training time had not been approved in the past. Workers were then required to attend training for which they were not being compensated.
Sheriff Paul Mullins reported that the jail has received additional state inmates for work programs and anticipates getting additional inmates to help with city and county services.
The board approved a $270 monthly fee from C Spire for the operation of the NCIC program for the Sheriff’s Department. This is an interface with other law enforcement agencies across the nation. The board also approved personnel changes within the Sheriff’s Department upon Mullin’s recommendation.
The board approved a letter of intent with ABM Building Solutions to proceed with an energy efficiency report to save county expenses associated with utility operations.
The next regular meeting of the board is set for December 7 and then the 15. County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, on each of the coming holidays in observance of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
Donnie Caughman, the director of the Simpson County Development Foundation, gave an update on economic development issues as well as land acquisition opportunities.
