Supervisors discuss ambulance services as well as contract regarding number of Advance Life Service, ALS ambulances with ASAP ambulance service who provides service in the county.
Supervisor Randy Moore questioned as to why there is not an ambulance stationed in the Harrisville area. He was told by Dr. Norman Miller that there are not enough qualified personnel to work since the onset of Covid-19. The contract calls for four ambulances to be in Simpson County as of recent the company has only been able to provide four staffed and qualified ambulances.
Miller acknowledged that ten of the current employees are taking advanced Emergency Medical Treatment, EMT, courses but that does not qualify for ALS certification. Miller told the board that ambulance service providers all over the state are experiencing the same problem. He told the board there are not enough people in the industry to meet the needs.
Randy Moore questioned what could be done to improve the situation. Miller said that he would like to get with the schools to establish a curriculum and provide jobs for graduating seniors. The board agreed to help him contact the schools and see what could be done to help address the issue.
Britt Harris and Gregory Perry from Mississippi Game and Fish Commission solicited support from the board of supervisors to assist with road issues at Legion Lake. They asked the board if they would deliver enough gravel 3/10s of a mile to go from the boat ramp to the campground. In addition, they asked for the county to assist with some of the paving on the main road accessing the park. Board Attorney, Danny Welch, said the county does not have provisions to allow for them to donate to a project. He did however mention the county had provided gravel before and he would research the matter.
Harris told the board that a new dam and spillway had been constructed and the lake is anticipated to re-open in May or June of 2023.
Sheriff Paul Mullins recommended to the board the hiring of Billy Seghini, Sean Cooper and Chris Jones as deputies along with Mike Grubbs as part-time deputy.
The board also approved the purchase of a third canine for $14,500. Seghini will be the handler and the Sheriff’s Office will send them to school for $3,900. The board also approved Casey Bowen moving from part time to full time.
There was discussion about continued spraying of roadside vegetation. The process reduces the need for mowing and bush hogging. The county paid $45,000 last year for the upcoming application and the cost has risen to $70,000. There was concern if they did not commit, they would not be able to get the chemicals at a later date based on availability of materials. Road Manager, Ben Warren, reported that last week the road department was able to field two crews with hot mix to fix potholes. He said the weather would not allow it this coming week. Warren and Randy Moore are attending an equipment auction next week and the board authorized up to $60,000 to be spent on a replacement tandem wheel truck if one was available.
The board approved a resolution supporting ASAP ambulance services of being able to draw additional funding through the federal government for Medicaid patients.
The board approved moving forward with the jail expansion project which they have placed Charlie Welch as coordinator. They also have placed Welch in a position to review work with ABM Building Solutions. The county contracted with ABM as consultants on energy conservation. Welch is responsible for review of work performed to ensure it was done to standard. The first payment of $328,554.24 was due at the end of February. The contract is an annual payment amount.
Welch updated the board on renovating the voting precincts. He also discussed implementing a secondary wi-fi system at the 9-11 emergency facility to allow for improved teaching opportunities at the office.
The board was notified that the office space that was being used for school services provided by Patrick Flagg would not extend past the current year and that funding was not available for the requested lease amount according to Mississippi Department of Education.
The issue with collection of garbage fee collection seems to be getting corrected. Uncollected fees would be applied to automobile tags. There are a total of 1,827 current accounts of that 633 are delinquent. This is equal to 35 percent. Tags will not be sold to those who have late garbage fees.
