The Simpson County Board of Supervisors met last week with the first order of business being a budget hearing for the upcoming 2022-23 budget year.
When the public comment section of the meeting was opened, county school board member Stan Bulger addressed the board, stating that he was not speaking on behalf of the school board but as an individual.
Bulger acknowledged the Magee mayor’s comment that Mendenhall Middle School should have been abandoned 20 years earlier. Bulger told the board that they did not want to become known as the first county board in the state, as well as the nation, to have refused to approve the school board budget. He said whether or not funds were used for school consolidation, they were needed for improvements and that those improvements should be provided. Funding for consolidation of the two county high schools has caused contention in some quarters. Bulger said that the school board is making overall changes for the best and reiterated the importance of having the funds and resources available to make those positive things happen.
County resident and pastor Thomas Ray Floyd responded by quoting scripture from Second Samuel. Floyd told the crowd that there were not any budgets that could not be reduced by 5 percent off the top. He added that taxes over 10 percent were not Biblical. Floyd said the schools have too much money, referring to their excess funds in the budget, and that the district is suffering from mismanagement. He claimed that the Board of Supervisors is the levying authority for the county and that Simpson County should make a stand for “what is right.” He said that unchecked abuse of power leads to tyranny and closed by saying, “I would like for Simpson County to be in the news and make a bold statement on liberty.”
Comments then shifted to Barnard Mitchell, pastor of Zion Hill Church. Mitchell told Floyd that he was quoting the wrong scripture and that the 10 percent figure was to Saul. He said a better scripture came from Mathew 22, where the Bible says, “render unto Caesar what is his,” meaning that government has the authority to tax what is necessary for services.
The board voted three to two in favor of passing the new budget as well as setting the millage rate to fund the budget. Supervisors Randy Moore and Donnie Welch opposed the budget as well as the increase.
The board accepted bids from two contractors for the expansion of the trustee hall at the jail. Low bid was to Traxler Construction at $730,000 and a bid from S&L Construction was $817,000. The bids were tabled and taken under advisement.
Mike Cole, director of Covington County Ambulance, met with the board to introduce Todd Jones, the chief paramedic who would be working with Simpson County.
John Kilpatrick, county emergency management coordinator, reported to the board that the mapping system for the county, Tri State, is not adequate for what is needed for 9-11. He suggested that the county use AT&T at a cost of $600 per month.
The board approved the extension of exemption of taxes for Real Pure Bottling. With the addition of a new line, Real Pure’s employment has increased to a total of 47 employees with the new line adding 10 to 15 employees.
Kilpatrick reported 911 calls in the county at a total of 1,088,compared to 1,430 calls for the month a year ago. Eight structure fires were reported for the month. The 911 office suffered thus far almost $40,000 damage in recent electrical strikes. The board approved Kilpatrick attending a drone conference training on November 2. He also noted that there is a National Emergency Medical Training in Pearl over a three week period.
The next scheduled meeting of the board is set for Friday, September 30, for year end closure. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be on Monday, October 3.
