Tyson has submitted a tax exemption request to the county for new equipment installed at their feed mill.
The board tabled the issue to further consider the request for exemption on new equipment valued just over $1 million.
The request should have included jobs created in order to qualify for exemption through the State Department of Revenue. According to Board Attorney Danny Welch, the exemption Tyson is seeking would be based on creation of new jobs.
In this circumstance exemption requires maintaining current positions and updating existing operations. The board tabled the request until additional information for the completion of documentation needed for the state. Board President Danny Craft had spoken to Magee’s Mayor Dale Berry, and his board has not acted on the request.
According to County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson, the additional property has been purchased for D’Lo Water Park at the location of Highway 49 where the Strong River crosses. Plans include having a boat ramp built funded through the State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The reason for the purchase was to offset land that will be given up when the new bridge is constructed at the park site. The park had to provide additional right of way to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
The board approved hiring three additional parttime people in the road department and three full-time positions at the recommendation of Road Manager Ben Warren. Warren told the board it is difficult to find employees right now because of the unemployment benefits that are currently being offered.
The road department is currently preparing to begin paving projects in the county with a start date of June 1. Warren told the board the crews are now working on ditching as well as leveling of roads that will be paved this summer.
The board discussed hiring parttime help to do grass cuttings but the issue was tabled until the next meeting to allow for quotes for doing the work. Sheriff Paul Mullins told the board the inmates may be back at work by May 11 if not sooner. The board approved the Sheriff applying for a 50 percent matching grant for bullet proof vest that were no longer serviceable.
The board agreed to hire an IT (information technology) person to go to work for the county. There were no specifics set but that person would work with the inventory control office at the county. A salary range of $50 to $60 ,000 per year was bantered back and forth.
A claim submitted by Anthony Magee for damage to a window in a vehicle for $175 was denied because it had been two years since the event happened.
The voting precinct in Braxton has been moved from the Masonic Lodge to the community center going forward.
The board made the final approval on the lease purchase of three dump trucks for $452,700 with a balloon note of $387,000 from Trustmark at 1.48 percent interest. They also approved a note from Trustmark for the lease purchase of a garbage truck in the amount of $166,188 at 1.52 percent with a balloon note of $50,000.
The next meeting of the board is set for May 14 R 9 a.m. The board determined there was no need to continue meeting weekly and authorized the county administrator to act in their behalf if need be regarding state directives regarding closures etcetra. The county will observe Memorial Day on Monday May 25.
