At the Simpson County Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled meeting on June 3, they presented two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors.
The board presented the 2024 MAS County Employee Scholarship and MASIT Scholarship to Destiney Hicks, and Carson A. Walker was given the MAS Scholarship.
In other business, proof of publications for bid openings to be held on June 7 for the Peacock Road bridge project for a box culvert and approaches and for the Dry Creek Road bridge project were recorded in the board minutes. These bids will be opened on June 7 and tabled until June 14 for review.
Road manager Ben Warren presented the monthly road report, saying that the county crews have started the rock and tar project, and they are progressing nicely. He believes the crew will be able to dodge some of the upcoming storms and keep a steady workflow.
Warren explained that there is a need for more gravel storage throughout the county. He said their current storage capacity is approximately 1,000 yards of gravel, which is used to make roads accessible and help with repairs, and the county goes through that quickly when dealing with heavy rains. Warren suggested another storage barn somewhere in the county. Supervisor Donny Welch said the county needed two additional storage spaces for gravel, and suggested building them over time.
The board discussed the best place for the new storage facilities being near Pinola or Harrisville to cut down on hauling time for the gravel pit. The board decided that Harrisville will be the best option for the initial barn and received quotes for a 30x40 barn for approximately $23,000. The board continued to discuss a solution to the storage issue.
Warren said, “People don’t realize what these storms do to us. We have so many trees to pick up, so many driveways to fix, and roads are closed. Initially we are trying to get everything opened back up as soon as possible so people can travel.”
County Engineer Greg Bonds presented a utility permit request. Bonds and the board also discussed the approximately 2.5 million dollars expected from State-Aid. Bond said the county can use up to 90 percent of it for roads and bridges. The board discussed getting a plan together and getting a list of projects for each district. They anticipate that the majority of the money would be used for pre-leveling and chip sealing projects.
Tax Assessor Jamie Brewer presented a new hire. She also said her department is checking homestead and tags for properties that had no structures in place but have addresses and are generating a garbage bill.
This is part of the process the county is undergoing to get an accurate account of delinquent accounts in solid waste. Brewer also discussed a situation involving a couple moving a trailer onto some property and being able to open a new account. The property was flagged in the system for being delinquent for trash, but there was never a structure built there. The previous owner received an E-911 address but never built anything on the property. Brewer explained that they were able to verify with Southern Pine that power was not established at the address within the last 20 years. This satisfied what her office needed, and they were able to suspend the old account and allow the new owners of the property to open a new account.
Brewer said her office is not deleting any accounts but just suspending them so the revenue stops growing. The board discussed updating the process, because the garbage bill starts when the 911 address is received.
County IT director and inventory control clerk Charlie Welch contacted Malone Roofing after the leaking roof in the courthouse was declared an emergency. Malone roofing will do a water test and work up a plan to move forward with repairs. Supervisor Mitchell Chatman asked whether there were repercussions for the Latham Company for not fixing the roof properly. Attorney Danny Welch said the architect is backing the contractors and saying that the contractor did what was in their scope of work. Chatman asked if Latham ever really explain their scope of work. Welch said they were given limited knowledge of where the leaks were outside of the leaks already identified. Malone is working under the emergency order to find and fix the leaks.
The board voted to paint the County Extension office, which needs the work, and its gutters are rusted and need to be repaired also. The board approved the painting and will evaluate the building for other repairs.
The public notice regarding dead trees on or near the public road rights of way is running in the newspaper and is posted on the Board of Supervisor’s Facebook page.
Pat Brown with the Simpson County Development Foundation presented the board with a contract from the Central MS Planning and Development District for them to develop zoning ordinances for the county. The board approved.
Brown updated the board on economic development prospects and sites that the foundation is trying to acquire. Brown said 80 acres may be available near the road department and next to the railroad that the district owns and can answer some real estate needs.
Brown also updated the board on progress being made on renovations at D’Lo Water Park. He said they are on track to be complete by the July 4 firework show. He also said Merit Water Park has been closed due to safety concerns.
The board discussed MSOP money being used to purchase a sprinter vehicle to be used in the county by the ambulance service. The county would own the vehicle, but it would be maintained by Covington County ambulance service.
Board Attorney Danny Welch expressed the need for an executive session to discuss litigation and personnel. Welch said the county is close to finalizing the language in the agreements with MS Hub.
