WALTHALL — State Sen. Bart Williams met with the Webster County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2.
Williams (R-District 15), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee, inquired of any issues the supervisors would like to see addressed by the Legislature and other matters.
Among concerns mentioned were decreasing homestead exemption reimbursements and the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s distribution of State Aid funds.
“We’re getting ’80s money, so there’s no way for us to get ahead,” board President Pat Cummings said. “All our State Aid roads need resealing.”
The senator said he wanted to work with the board regarding economic development and that the state was trying to simplify the process.
“It’s about creating jobs and increasing the quality of jobs here,” he said.
Other Discussions
Phylis Benson of the Golden Triangle Planning Development District also appeared before the board to ask if the county needed any assistance from the agency at this time.
Additionally, Sheriff David Gore discussed the possibility of the county applying for a grant/low-interest loan for construction of a new jail. No action was taken at that meeting.
The board met in executive session nearly an hour for personnel reasons; no action was taken. Fire Coordinator/EMA Director Barry Rushing, Deputy EMA Director Tom Booth, 911 Director Jimmy McLemore, Sheriff David Gore and Gary Jeffcoats of the Mathiston Fire Department remained in the boardroom during the discussion.
Consultant Daniel Hunt with Universal Solutions of North Mississippi presented information about telephone system and service quotes for all county buildings. He was asked to present an updated quote at a later meeting.
Other Business
In other business Aug. 2, the board approved motions to:
• adopt a resolution regarding the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund Program administered by MDOT. The resolution states the county’s desire to submit applications for these projects listed in order of priority:
1) Pryor Bottom Road Bridge 103 and 104
2) Old Hwy. 82 Bridge 76
3) Old Walthall Road Bridge 61
• approve the hiring of David Fair and Drew Jones as part-time deputies effective immediately.
• allow Coroner Scott Dean and Deputy Coroner Kasey Skelton to attend an associational conference Oct. 19-22 in Biloxi.
• designate Booth as applicant agent to sign for and on behalf of the county for public assistance related to the winter storm federal disaster declaration.
• advertise by posting a 2005 GMC pickup belonging to District 1 and open bids Aug. 16.
Other Meetings
The board worked on the 2022-23 county budget during recessed meetings on July 12, July 14 and July 23. Meeting minutes show the board also discussed/handled these matters on the respective dates:
July 19: In addition to previously reported business on July 19, the board voted then to hire Milette Russell as a deputy tax assessor to begin Aug. 1.
July 21:
Chad Winter, president of The Enterprise board of trustees, addressed the board concerning the economic development organization. Choctaw County supervisors voted July 19 to opt out of the partnership between Choctaw and Webster counties.
The Choctaw Plaindealer reported July 28 that the Choctaw County board said in a statement, “While the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors is grateful for all of the contributions made to Choctaw County through the hard work of the Enterprise and the members of the Enterprise board, we are looking at other strategies in order to continue to move Choctaw County forward through economic development. This board is fully invested in the continued support of economic development in Choctaw County and for the future of this county.
Also on July 21, the Webster County board voted to spread upon the minutes that the estimate for the repair to a 2015 John Deere Tractor with side-mount cutter show that the net cost of repair for the equipment is $35,010.98. The board found that it is a justifiable expenditure because of the value of the tractor and cutter to spend that amount on its repair.
July 23: Chris and Cindy Garton appeared before the board to discuss the ad valorem taxes. Tax Assessor-Collector Barbara Gore also joined the meeting.
On Aug. 2, the board approved a related motion in which it made a finding and change of assessment as allowed under Section 27-35-143 of the Mississippi Code. That statute gives a board of supervisors power to change, cancel or decrease an assessment in certain cases after the assessment roll has been finally approved by the state Department of Revenue.
According to the motion, the total value of a parcel owned by the Gartons was incorrectly assessed for tax year 2019.
The amount of the assessment was reduced based on all available evidence, including testimony taken under oath before the board Aug. 2 from Gore and the Gartons. They each testified that the property was assessed for a higher sum than its true value for tax year 2019.
The board’s motion was to reduce the assessment to $3,800 for tax year 2019, set aside the tax sale of the parcel for the year 2019 only, and reduce the assessment on the tax roll for the years 2019 and 2020 to the corrected amount of $3,800.
July 30: County Engineer Karl Grubb was present. The board adopted a resolution requesting the Department of Finance and Administration to adopt a resolution to declare the necessity of issuance of state general obligation bonds.
The motion was to also enter into a joint resolution with Choctaw County concerning the Chester-Tomnolen Road.
The minutes indicate that attorney Robert Dambrino with the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust joined the meeting. He previously addressed the board April 23 concerning the lawsuit Jeff Mann vs. Webster County.
