WALTHALL — A historic bell that was on display in the old Webster County Courthouse before it burned will once again be displayed here in the county seat.
Minutes of the Board of Supervisors’ Sept. 18 meeting note that an old bell was on display in the old county Courthouse when it burned in 2013. Some believe that the bell had been originally displayed in the courthouse when it was located at Greensboro, according to the minutes.
Randy Rico of District 3 made a motion to display the bell once again at the new Courthouse. Doug Burgess of District 5 seconded his motion and it was approved 5-0. According to the discussion, the bell is now in safekeeping off-site.
During its Oct. 2 meeting, the board asked architect Belinda Stewart if her firm would design a structure from which to hang and display the bell, which she agreed to do. Plans are to place it by the sign at the entrance to the Courthouse.
Meeting minutes show supervisors handled these matters on the respective dates, which is in addition to some previously reported business not included here:
Sept. 5
On Sept. 5, the board approved these motions:
• to hire Rahsheida Hall as a part-time jail effective immediately.
• for District 3 Road to pay District 1 Road $24,388 as a reimbursement for supplies, specifically tar and rock used to pay 0.6 road miles in District 3. Also, for District 4 Road to pay District 5 Road $5,190 for tar and rock to pave some distance of road miles in District 4.
• to accept from retiring Circuit Clerk Sherry Henderson sums to be held by the county until further order of the board. An Aug. 31 letter from her explaining the funds and the amounts was spread upon the minutes.
• to accept all the homestead disallowances as presented by the Mississippi Department of Revenue without exception.
Sept. 11
On Sept. 11, the board approved these motions:
• to accept the 16th Section lease for Calisse Bell Harville and authorize president to sign on behalf of the county. The lease was previously approved by the county school district. It runs from Feb. 12, 2023, through Feb. 12, 2033, and is 2.99 acres.
• to authorize all supervisors to sign the recap of assessments real and personal rolls as presented by the clerk without amendment on behalf of the county.
• to apply for certification to expend the one-mill levy by state law to ensure compliance with the reappraisal laws, and authorize the president and clerk to sign on behalf of the county.
Sept. 18
In addition to the matter concerning the old Courthouse bell, the supervisors also approved these motions on Sept. 18:
• to approve the purchase of a 2023 Dodge Durango from Kirk Brothers for the Sheriff’s Department. The total cost of the vehicle is $38,900. Of that amount, $30,000 will be paid from the 2022-23
Budget and the remaining $8,900 will be paid from the 2023-24 sheriff’s budget after Oct. 1.
• to allow Barry Rushing, EMA director, and Tom Booth, deputy EMA director, to attend the Mississippi Civil Defense Emergency Management Association’s 2023 Mid-Winter Education Conference Nov. 14-16 in Bay St. Louis, and to prepay their expenses and to reimburse their expenses to the extent allowed by law.
• to, at the request of Sheriff David Gore, hire Jerren Holmes as a part-time deputy effective immediately.
The board also met in executive with Chad Winter, president of the Webster County Economic Development District, for about 30 minutes to discuss economic development. No action was taken.
Sept 29
On Sept 29, the board approved these motions:
• to delete Mary Sossaman from the E-911 list of part-time dispatchers, effective immediately.
• to authorize the clerk to pay these budgeted items before end of year:
EMS Capital from Fund 1 to Fund 12
School – additional privilege tax and homestead, both to be paid from Fund 1 to school
City parks – Eupora and Mathiston
Sally Kate Winters Family Services Emergency Shelter Program
Fire Rebate to nine volunteer fire departments
Fire Levy to six county VFDs
Transfer reappraisal compliance mill from Fund 2 to General Fund 1
Transfer $8,750 from each road fund to Blacktop Fund 156
• to hire Brantley Redwine and Aaliyah Jackson as part-time Sheriff’s Department dispatchers effective immediately.
• to accept the renewal quote form Gallagher for Webster County Fire Services in the amount of $38,026 and authorize the clerk to sign the renewal on behalf of the county
• to make an interfund loan payment of $8,244.48 from District 4 Road to 2012 Road Equipment Proceeds, which leaves the balance of the loan at $8,244.47.
• authorized approving all budget amendments to actual expenditures and revenues for the month of September
• accepted the monthly report of Dan Burchfield, who is the county’s representative to the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority’s Executive Committee.
