The big news to surface from the Board of Supervisors meeting last week is the fact that the large Pioneer Building in Magee has been sold.
The information was made public when the company applied for a tax exemption from the county. The building, which has been vacant for several years, was purchased by Phoenix V.
Morgan Dunn, representing Phoenix V, said the plan is to lease the facility to a healthcare company which would provide consulting and management for rural hospitals for billing and collection services for clinics and hospitals. The focus would be primarily through insurance companies. Dunn made the application.
The smaller of the two Pioneer buildings sold earlier in the year to an investor from Jackson. The company is not currently commenting onspecifics of the operation. The facility is in the renovation process.
The Board of Supervisors approved the tax exemption for the business for five years. It could then apply for the exemption for up to ten years; however, it is the board’s practice to approve five years and allow the business seeking the exemption to reapply after the first exemption expires.
In other business, Pat Brown updated the board on projects made available through the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District. Brown discussed the existing Land Use Plan, which includes a Comprehensive Plan that will be presented to the board next year. In addition the District is working with the City of Magee on sewer lagoon updates as well as water system improvements.
The board discussed a meals program that is available through the South Central Community Development program as part of the aging services offered to the county.
A total of 1,084 calls came through the county’s 911 service for the month through December 14. There were four structure fires for the same time period. The board approved a monthly fee of $592 for lap top services to stay current on the E 9-11 program.
Bids were opened for repairs to the court house roof and windows. Two companies had clear bids with a high and a low, but adding them together for a complete project changed the outcome of the bid. The board indicated a desire to perform all the work that was needed and not piecemeal it out. The bid totals were between $1.25 million and $1.15 million. Funding for part of the repairs is to come from federal Covid funds.
Sheriff Paul Mullins reported to the board that the trustee service had won first place in District Seven for garbage pick up.
County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson reported some slight changes in the voting precinct lines for next year’s elections. Central Mississippi Planning and Development District was the organization that completed the new lines in order to comply with federal standards.
The board opted to hold the check for ABM, the utility management consultant company for the county.
Mike Cole with Covington County Ambulance Service reported on service issues within the county. Cole told the board while there have been some issues, services seem to be working for the residents of Simpson County. He noted some communication issues in the Harrisville area of the county and indicated that some positions are open for ambulance workers.
Road Manager Ben Warren told the board that the county had dodged a bullet with the tornadic weather that passed around Simpson County last week.
County offices will be closed this Friday, Dec. 23, and the following Monday, Dec. 26, for Christmas holidays. They will be also be closed Monday after New Year’s holiday, Jan. 2. They will observe Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 16, and Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 20. The next meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
