The Simpson County Board of Supervisors agreed at their meeting on Feb. 12 to extend an emergency declaration to repair three additional bridges in Simpson County.
A contractor is currently repairing several bridges in the county and the board felt it was wise to repair three additional bridges at this time, one on Siloam Road, one on Star Braxton Road and one on Rockport Road.
The board also approved appointments to the Economic Development District for terms expiring. In District 1 Billy Craft’s term was coming up and he agreed to serve again; Robert Maddox will serve again in District 2. Brian Barnard will take the District 3 seat held by Brian Daniels, Robbie Barnes will take the seat held by Gerald Brown in District 4, and James Smith and Evelyn Copeland will continue to serve in their at-large positions.
Rusty May will replace Perry Lee on the Poplar Springs Water District.
Pat Brown will fill a vacant position on the County Park Commission.
The board appointed Scott Barnes to serve as their representative on the Simpson County Development Foundation.
The board approved pay raises for Austin Moore, Danielle Brown and Jamie Burkett for becoming certified as dispatchers. Theresa Parman was given a raise for meeting certification requirements for a detention officer. The board approved sending Neil Wailes for recertification on taser training in Meridian.
The board held an extensive discussion about adopting a policy on culverts and installation. County Road Manager Ben Warren told the board that last year the county spent $164,000 to provide culverts to county residents. He explained that with more of the budget being spent on items like bridge repair and maintaining the roadways, supervisors need to get this expense [of culverts] under control. He said some counties do not provide culverts, much less install them.
Warren agreed to research the standards established by surrounding counties and report back to the board. Attorney Danny Welch said the only obligation of the board is to protect the resources of the county and in that strict sense he was referring to the roadway itself.
Warren then reported that he has a lot of complaints about litter on county roads. He suggested that it would be a good idea to get local churches involved to help with the program as well as doing a public awareness campaign to get young people to help address the issue.
He said that a jail crew help clean up state highways and there is also a county crew, but that they are already being overwhelmed with work.
Warren completed his report by offering thanks for the inmate workers. He said, “They really get a lot of work accomplished and do a good job.”
The board discussed the continued problems the county is having with their garbage trucks. Specifically, trucks go in for diagnostic repair and before they are back in service more problems develop, and repair bills are running into the tens of thousands of dollars. The board instructed County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson to see if options are available for the rotation of trucks on a three to four year rotation.
A request was made of the board to provide roadway improvement in the D’Lo Cemetery. The board is trying to determine whether, if the cemetery is owned by the city, the county can provide any improvements.
The board approved recessing their meeting to February 21 at 10 a.m., when they will discuss possible expansion of the campus of Co-Lin Community College’s Simpson County Center.
