The Winston County Supervisors held its regular meeting on Monday, April 6 and addressed COVID-19 plans as well as regular business.
During the meeting the Board voted to extend the State of Emergency declaration through May 16; during this time all essential services will continue. The board extended the original 30 declaration which would have ended Apriul 16 for an additional 30 days.
Curfew 9pm to 6am
The Winston County supervisors unanimously passed a temporary curfew at Monday's board meeting in response to the continued spread of COVID-19.
The curfew will be effective immediately (April 6) and lasts from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., with the exception of essential travel and work.
Sheriff Jason Pugh and Chief Deputy Keith Alexander said law enforcement officers were addressing all matters of the emergency order and would do as well with the new emergency curfew.
Curfew reads as follows:
AN ORDINANCE IMPOSING A CURFEW AND REGULATING NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL IN WINSTON COUNTY DURING THE PERIOD OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the governing authorities of Winston County have the authority under Section 17-1-1 et seq. of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020, pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Section 33-15-11(b)(17) of the Mississippi Code, Governor Tate Reeves issued a Proclamation declaring that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Mississippi as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19 beginning on January 27, 2020; on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a nationwide state of emergency due to the coronavirus COVID- 19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the provisions of Section 33-15-1 et.seq. of the Mississippi Code declared a local state of emergency in Winston County, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves issued Executive Order 1463 and on April 1, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves issued Executive Order 1466; and
WHEREAS, the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and the effects of its extreme risk of person-to-person transmission throughout the United States and the State of Mississippi significantly impact the life and health of our citizens, as well as the economy of Winston County and the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the risk of spread of COVID-19 within Winston County, Mississippi constitutes a public emergency that may result in substantial injury or harm to life, health, and property within Winston County, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Supervisors of Winston County to protect public life, health and welfare and to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the county by the adoption of an ordinance regulating all non-essential travel in Winston County and by imposing a curfew during the period of emergency; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Supervisors of Winston County Mississippi as follows:
Effective from and after the date of April 6, 2020, which is the effective date of the passage of this Ordinance, there is hereby imposed a curfew for all citizens of Winston County, Mississippi, from the hours of 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. and said curfew will be in effect for as long as the State of Mississippi and Winston County remain under a state of emergency or until further action by the Board of Supervisors.
This curfew shall apply to all resident citizens of Winston County, Mississippi, and to all non-resident persons located within the county. All citizens of Winston County are to remain at their home or business during curfew hours. All non-essential travel during the curfew hours is hereby prohibited. However, any citizen who can show proof of being an essential employee of an essential business as those terms are defined by Executive Orders 1463 and 1466, shall be exempt from this curfew provided that, and only to the extent that, such person is traveling to or from work during the hours of the curfew.
This Ordinance shall be enforced by the Sheriff of Winston County, Mississippi, or any of his duly authorized deputies and/or any duly authorized law enforcement officer of Winston County, Mississippi. Any such law enforcement officer is hereby authorized to issue a citation for the violation of this curfew.
A violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be a misdemeanor. Each violation shall subject the violator to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
Should any section or provision of this ordinance be declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any part thereof, other than the part so held to be invalid.
Due to the state of emergency presently existing, this ordinance will become effective immediately upon passage.
Therefore, on motion made by Supervisor Warner and duly seconded by Supervisor Wilkes and by unanimous vote of all Supervisors, this Ordinance was passed by the Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting on April 6, 2020.
SO ORDAINED AND ORDERED on this 6th day of April, 2020.
s/Luke Parkes, President, Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
s/Rusty Foster, Chancery Clerk
Courthouse measures
To help guard against the risk of exposure for county employees, the Board voted to implement a plan for the courthouse. The board voted to lock the courhouse building and place a deputy out front of the building and to allow one person at a time into the building and encouraged all citizens to do business with by telephone or mail rather than coming to the courthouse.
CIRCUIT CLERK
The circuit court clerk, Kim Ming, can be contacted at 662-773-3581 or kim@winstoncounty.org
Lawyers should continue to file matters with the Circuit Clerk as usual.
If you have a matter set for Circuit Court, please contact our office for information or further instructions.
Marriage License Please contact our office by the above referenced phone number or email address. Applications will be made available by email upon request.
Passport Application: Applying for a passport is available by appointment only.
Tax Assessor
With public access to the Winston County Tax Assessor/ Collector’s Office and other areas of the courthouse restricted, vehicle tag renewals may be completed by mail or by phone with a debit/credit card. New vehicle purchases may be handled by phone calls to the office. You will be given a cell number or email address to send your title/or title app information for processing.
Real property, personal property, and mobile home taxes may be mailed or paid with debits/credits by phone.
Homestead filing deadlines and personal property rendition filing deadlines have both been extended until May 1st.
P. O. Box 765 Louisville, MS 39339
dbane@winstoncounty.org
662-773-3694
The Winston County Board of Supervisors strongly urges Winston County residents to stay home and be safe.
Board President Luek Parkes noted that the courthouse had to remain open but they had to operate with flexibility to keep everyone safe.
In other action, the Board:
•Approved installing a type of glass/plexiglass in all the courthouse offices for the safety of the staff.
• Approved sealed bids.
• Approved claims docket and overtime hours
• Approved advertising yearly bids and bids for a garbage truck
• Approved lease purchase for new cars for the Sheriff’s Department.
• Approved hiring a sheriff’s deputy to replace another deputy leaving.
• Approved payments on bridge and other measures in the county.
The Board of Supervisors will meet again on Monday, April 20.
