WALTHALL — The Webster County Board of Supervisors rehired county employees for 2024 during its first meeting of the year and new term on Jan. 2.
The board voted to rehire all county employees as listed here at the same terms and on the same conditions. Also, the board authorized and directed President Pat Cummings to sign on behalf of the county to enter into contracts with Jacqueline Meek as board attorney and with Michael Kolb (the new chancery clerk) as clerk for preservation of public records. Those rehired were:
Inventory Clerk Michael Kolb
Fire Coordinator/EMA Director Barry Rushing
Purchase Clerk Kay Embry
Receiving Clerk Antowine Hearvey
Veterans Service Officer Ken Wicha
AP Clerk/Deputy Chancery Clerk Moniqua Sims
Payroll Clerk/Deputy Chancery Clerk Irene Surma
Justice Court Clerk Lisa Dean
Deputy JC Clerk Peggy Pepper
Deputy JC Clerk Ronda McKee
All other county employees were rehired at the same rate of compensation as budgeted for 2023-24 fiscal year.
Hearvey was named receiving clerk that morning after supervisors learned during the course of their meeting of the death of Steve Hodges at his home. Hodges, who had held that position for many years, died Dec. 31 at the age of 66 according to his obituary. All members of the Board of Supervisors were named honorary pallbearers for his funeral. Hearvey had been serving as assistant receiving clerk while employed as a District 1 road worker.
Additionally, the board accepted the annual contract with Willis Engineering as county engineer. It also voted to allow all supervisors, clerk and board attorney to attend the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Mid-Winter Conference in Jackson, Jan. 22-25.
The board adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Meeting minutes show it handled these matters on the respective dates:
Dec. 4
In business not previously reported from the Dec. 4 meeting, the board voted that day to:
• allow Deputy Coroner Kasey Skelton to attend an associational conference Jan. 17-19 in Flowood and pay association dues both for Skelton and Coroner Scott Dean of $200 each for a total of $400.
• pay Meek and Meek Attorneys for the title search on an Emergency Road and Bridge Project, specifically Fowler Cotton Co. Inc. and Pryor-Helms Farms, for $700; and the title search on a Local System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program project, specifically Carlton White and William Willingham for $700.
Dec. 18
Wicha, who had been hired as county VSO officer Dec. 4, addressed the board Dec. 18. In other business that day, the board voted to:
• spread a copy of a certificate from the Department of Revenue finally approving the assessment rolls for 2023.
• allow District 3 employees and machinery to go upon the property of Mannie Halford to fill an old well.
• accept the resignation of Brandon Chaille as a deputy sheriff effective Dec. 14.
• remove two computers from county inventory as junk and of no value to the county.
Dec. 29
On Dec. 29, Circuit Clerk Wanda Robinson addressed the board about voting machines and the purchase of new ones after the Courthouse water damage in November. Supervisors also approved the claims docket for the month.
