The Board of Supervisors has declared a local emergency over last month’s flooding in Webster County.
Supervisors voted Feb. 28 to spread upon the minutes a board proclamation of local emergency dated Feb. 19 because of flash flooding that started that day. They also ordered that a board resolution dated Feb. 27 be spread upon the minutes requesting the governor to proclaim a state of emergency existing in the county because of flash flooding.
An updated damage report released March 1 by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shows that one home, 65 roads and three bridges in the county were damaged from the flooding that started Feb. 19. MEMA initially reported that two homes in the county were damaged.
Gov. Phil Bryant did sign and declare a state of emergency on Feb. 25 in response to the damage caused statewide by severe weather. A state of emergency is an administrative tool that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in response and recovery efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, MEMA and select local emergency management offices were to conduct joint damage assessments Tuesday and today in response to the severe storms and flooding that impacted the state from Feb. 19-24.
These assessments are help confirm the types and amounts of damage a disaster inflicted on individuals and property, according to a release from MEMA. They also help determine whether the scope of damage is beyond the state’s threshold and if federal assistance is needed to support affected counties.
Feb. 19
On Feb. 19, the Board of Supervisors accepted the quote of Universal Solutions to provide the telephones for the new courthouse. The quote was for the price of $16,592.98, which includes installation, training and 12 months warranty. It was also the lower of two quotes received.
The board accepted an $8,900 quote from EDC Doss Electric of Maben to make general electrical repairs throughout the Sheriff’s Department and jail. The repairs will include the replacement of existing fluorescent fixtures with LED surface-mounted wraparound fixtures.
The quote, though higher than the $6,900 quote of Andy Williams, is the better quote in that it uses a higher quality grade of electrical bulb and the parts are individually replaceable rather than requiring the replacement of the entire lighting unit, according to the minutes.
The board also voted to purchase a new fingerprint device for the Sheriff’s Department for the amount of $721 more or less.
Supervisors voted for the county to go to the state contract price on uniforms and supplies with Cintas, which will provide all the supplies. A representative of the company first addressed the board about the uniforms and other supplies for the county.
Sales representative Finley Ward with Central Bidding addressed the board about reverse auctions. Karen Jackson Pogue of Affordable Employee Benefits addressed the board about the county’s major medical insurance. Blue Cross is going up $59.82 per person a month. Other carriers are going to remain the same.
Feb. 28
In addition to the flooding-related measures taken Feb. 28, the board voted that day to:
• enter into memorandums of agreement with the Mississippi Transportation Commission giving Webster County some detailed regulations and procedures for the county grant funds for replacement of bridges and associated activities.
The two motions doing so also authorized entering board orders to contract for professional services for two Emergency Road and Bridge Repair projects, entering into engineering agreements with Willis Engineering hiring Willis to do work in regard to the ERBR projects and authorizing Willis to advertise the projects once approval of MDOT has been received.
• enter into an agreement with USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service to perform repairs on Roberts Road, Hood Bottom Road and Hatcher Road.
• allow Veterans Service Officer David Ellison to attend a training session for VSOs on March 4 at Mississippi State.
• allow county Fire Investigator Barry Rushing to attend the 2019 Fire Investigator Spring Seminar on April 1 in Gulfport.
• pay a $2,800 invoice from Netcomm Wiring in spite of the fact that the purchase requisition stated “not to exceed $2,500.” The reason for the overage, according to the minutes, is that more fiber was required to complete the job than was originally estimated. The board had voted in January to allow Netcomm to make the connection of downstairs internet service to upstairs internet service at the new courthouse.
March 4
On March 4, the board authorized the county engineer, Willis Engineering, to advertise for the construction of the parking lot at the new courthouse in Walthall after the board has reviewed the specifications.
In related action Feb. 28, the board voted to enter into a contract with Willis Engineering/Karl H. Grubb to pave the courthouse parking lot.
Program Coordinator Spencer Broocks of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District appeared before the board concerning the Appalachian Regional Commission project for site utilities (water and sewer) and access road paving at the new courthouse.
At his request, supervisors authorized board President Pat Cummings to sign on behalf of the county the start of construction and contractor award notification on the ARC project. The board then adopted a resolution selecting and authorizing the GTPDD to administer the ARC project. GTPDD will be paid $15,000 – $6,000 from ARC and $9,000 from the county.
The board also authorized a disbursement of cash from the same ARC project in the amount of $79,230.90 and the county’s 30 percent match of $35,591.40, and authorized the clerk to pay these invoices within three days of receiving the funds: Willis Engineering, $9,618; and contractor Double S Inc., $103,569.
Additionally, the board voted to enter into a participation agreement with the Mississippi Association of Supervisors in its Inmate Medical Cost Containment Program and to pay MAS 5 percent of all medical claims savings resulting from its work. The board previously hired Gulf Guaranty Employee Benefit Services to review the medical bills that are generated by prisoners at the county jail. Gulf Guaranty partners with MAS as a third-party administrator of the cost containment program.
The board accepted a quote from Data Systems Management to purchase and install a new computer operating system even though its quote of $29,404.85 is higher than the $24,950 quote of VSS of Madison. Data Systems’ quote includes installation and the other quote does not.
Supervisors spent about 25 minutes in executive session with Acting Sheriff Andy McCants discussing personnel. No action was taken.
The board recessed until 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Justice Court courtroom.
