WALTHALL — The Board of Supervisors has selected a new veterans service officer for Webster County.
David Ellison resigned as county VSO effective Feb. 28 and applications for the advertised part-time position were accepted through May 15.
Paul Crowley (District 4) made a motion during the Dec. 4 meeting to hire Ken Wicha to fill the position at the budgeted amount, effective Jan. 1. Eudy Morris (District 1) seconded and the motion was approved 5-0.
Belinda Stewart and Craig Bjorgum of Belinda Stewart Architects updated the board that morning on the Webster County Command Center to be built by the Courthouse. Stewart said the next steps would be design development followed by construction drawings for bidding.
Deputy Fire Coordinator Tom Booth informed the board of a fire chiefs meeting held Nov. 9. They discussed how to fairly and agreeably divide a $250,000 state appropriation secured for the six county fire departments by Sen. Bart Williams.
Booth said the fire chiefs voted to divide the appropriation funds six ways between the fire departments and that each should receive $41,666.67. The funds can only be used for building improvements.
Also on Dec. 4, supervisors met with Chad Winter, president of the Webster County Economic Development District, in executive session to discuss economic development. No related action was taken when the board came back into open session 20 minutes later.
The board voted to hire Antonio Harvey as a part-time dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Office. Board members opened annual bids for goods and services, accepting some and rejecting others. They also accepted a bid from Bank of Kilmichael to serve as county depository for the next two calendar years, having voted to advertise for this on Nov. 6.
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Other Meetings
Minutes of November meetings show the board handled these matters on the respective dates:
Nov. 6
In addition to previously reported business from its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 6, the board approved these motions:
• to authorize Chancery Clerk Russ Turner to complete the FY 2024 Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund grant application in the amount of $6,053. The application had to be submitted by Nov. 10 to the state Health Department.
• to authorize President Pat Cummings and Turner to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration and other documents on behalf of the county pertaining to Section 28 of HB 603 of the 2023 legislative session, which is $25,000 for Webster County for the Tomnolen Volunteer Fire Department. Turner was also authorized to deposit same when received.
• to accept the report of Dan Burchfield, who is the county’s representative to the Golden Triangle Solid Waste Management Authority landfill, and spread a copy on the minutes. Burchfield has since moved out of county and Bill Bland has been appointed to replace him effective Jan. 1.
• to participate in the development of the District 4 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. EMA Director Barry Rushing was designated to represent the county in all matters pertaining to the development of the regional plan.
• The Sheriff’s Department purchased work from Eaton CDJR without a purchase order in the amount of $4,702.91. Sheriff David Gore gave the approval for the purchase. The board voted to pay the invoice without a purchase order.
• to request that Stewart, as architect for the new commend center, report to the board at the first meeting of every month.
• to purchase two tornado sirens for the East Webster High School and Tomnolen districts. The total is $92,452, including the federal share of $83,206.80 and non-federal share of $9,245.20 with a 90/10 share. This is funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
• to participate in the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Interest Survey and Memorandum of Understanding, Interest Survey Form.
• to purchase one Hytera HR1062 repeater from Anderson Communication of Oxford for net amount after discount of $2,806.70. The repeater will be installed at Mantee.
• to allow the county to enter upon Alan Springer’s property to tear down and remove a brick wall and blocks of concrete to use as rip-rap to prevent erosion on county roads.
Nov. 20
During a recessed meeting on Nov. 20, the board approved a motion stating that as of that day, Ronda McKee would no longer serve as a deputy in the tax assessor’s office. She was immediately hired as a deputy clerk for Webster County Justice Court effective that day at the same rate as the other deputy (Peggy Sue Pepper, who was hired Nov. 6).
The board accepted a 16th Section lease for Erica C. Williams and authorized the president to sign it on behalf of the county. The lease, which ends Oct. 14, 2023, had previously been approved by the county School Board.
(See under Nov. 28 for additional business handled Nov. 20.)
Nov. 28
During a Nov. 28 recessed meeting, the board and representatives of Paul Davis Recovery discussed how far the recovery project had come from Courthouse water damage on Nov. 20 and the things that needed to be accomplished to move on to correct the damages sustained from a water leak.
The damage to the flooring was the main discussion, and Abby Thompson and Austin Burdine of PDR were to bring flooring samples to the Nov. 30 meeting for the board to choose from for the replacement. Records show three company representatives were present Nov. 30.
As previously reported, a burst water heater pipe was discovered early Nov. 20, which resulted in the first floor being flooded. The board voted during a recessed meeting that Monday to close the building because of the water damage beginning that day and for it to remain closed from day to day until further order of the board.
The floors to the Courthouse were under water, making them dangerous for all employees and people using the Courthouse. Further, electrical outlets and electric equipment were exposed to the significant amount of water and presented a danger to all employees and general public, the motion stated.
Repairs would have to be made to stop the leak and repairs would be necessary. A review of the Courthouse was to be made every morning and based on the conditions the Courthouse would either remain closed or be reopened. The minutes state a claim had been filed with insurance.
The Courthouse remained closed the entire week, having already been scheduled for closing that Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, and reopened Nov. 27.
Also on Nov. 28, the board voted to lift the countywide burn ban effective immediately and to notify Emergency Management Agency officials of its action. The board had put the burn ban on Nov. 6.
Nov. 30
Willy Weddle of Eupora, retiring field representative for U.S Rep. Trent Kelly (1st District), introduced Robert Smith as his replacement on Nov. 30. The supervisors welcomed Smith and insured him that they would call him for help if necessary, the minutes state.
Winter addressed the board concerning economic development. Also during the recessed meeting, the board approved motions to:
• take Diane Wright from the 911 dispatcher list effective that day.
• pay the two invoices for the 2023 Road Improvement from Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act funds: Mississippi Paving & Construction in the amount of $212,026.80 and Willis Engineering of the amount of $13,936.72.
• approve the monthly claims docket.
