The Simpson County Board of Supervisors convened for their recessed meeting on Tuesday, July 15, at the newly implemented start time of 8 a.m. Board President Danny Craft led the meet
Thomas Calhoun, representing Means of Grace Mission, revisited the board to address previously discussed concerns about supervision at the mission and garbage collection procedures. Calhoun expressed his commitment to resolving the issues. The board responded by voting to reclassify the mission’s solid waste as a business account, which will allow for expanded garbage service.
Circuit Clerk Whitt Fortenberry requested a name change for the Summerall Voting Precinct to avoid ongoing confusion. The board approved renaming it the Martinville Voting Precinct. Fortenberry also received the go-ahead to dispose of voter records dated prior to 2018.
In Road Department matters, Road Manager Jeremy Bolton announced the hiring of JaQuarrius McLaurin as a full-time CDL operator. The board also approved the full-time status of Christopher Varnes and Cody McCurdy and hired Steven Edwards and William Grubbs as part-time, non-CDL employees.
Raises were granted to Jason Higgins, Mark Smith, and Jerry Granderson upon completion of their probationary periods. Additional road department actions included the declaration of equipment asset #3916 as surplus and the approval to advertise an upcoming scrap sale. A final change order from Walter’s Construction for a pre-leveling project was also accepted. Meanwhile, a permit request related to Hwy 28 Water was postponed for further review.
The board approved the claims docket for July 15, 2025, totaling $1,281,914.14, along with electronic payments made by credit card: $2,153.62 for the Board of Supervisors and $1,634.69 for the Sheriff’s Department. The completed claims docket for June 2025 will be included in the official minutes, and Board President Danny Craft was authorized to sign. Financial reports and the monthly credit card report for June were also ap
The board extended the Emergency Order for ongoing bridge repairs and signed off on annual software support contracts with Delta Computer Systems, Inc., which include modest monthly rate increases. In addition, they authorized the destruction of old Accounts Payable and Purchasing Department records from Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020.Other approvals included a $550 expense for Anna Lee Ragsdale to attend the SCLEOTA Physical Training Academy, with $400 to be reimbursed. Travel-related costs, including meals, lodging, registration, and mileage, were also approved.
The board authorized the processing of claims and immediate issuance of checks. The financial statement for D’Lo Water Park as of June 30, 2025, was acknowledged and entered into the record. Future board meetings were confirmed for August 4, August 15, September 2, and September 15, 2025.
Emergency Management Director John Kilpatrick informed the board that the county’s 911 system handled 1,111 calls during the month of June and shared progress on the county mapping project. The board approved a request from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to use the 911 building as a backup facility during emergencies.
Board Attorney Danny Welch provided a legal review of a proposed lease agreement from National Lease Approval. He advised against it, citing overly restrictive terms. The board opted not to proceed with the contract. Following a report from Co-Lon, supervisors entered executive session.
The board’s next regular meeting will continue with the new 8 a.m. start time.
