WALTHALL — The Board of Supervisors has approved a $2 increase in the monthly garbage fee for Webster County residents.
The board did so during a recessed meeting on March 31, minutes show.
Eudy Morris (District 1) moved to raise the monthly garbage fee from $12 a month to $14 a month effective July 1. Doug Burgess (District 5) seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
Other Meetings
Minutes of other meetings show the board handled these matters on the respective dates:
March 2
In addition to previously reported business at the March 2 meeting, minutes show the board voted to enter into contract with Thomas Auction and Real Estate Co. to sell a backhoe, rotary cutter, lowboy trailer and two trucks.
March 16
On March 16, the board accepted the quote proposal of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust for $137,968.90 for the annual renewal of the county property and liability insurance coverage beginning April 1. Sandra Dewberry of Dewberry Insurance Agency presented the proposal.
The board also voted to allow constables to attend the Mississippi Constables Association 2020 Convention and Training Seminar in Gulfport on June 1-6.
The board met in executive session about 12 minutes to discuss personnel. Paul Crowley (District 4) left the boardroom after the board voted to do so and returned after the board came back into open session. No action was taken.
March 31
In addition to approving the garbage fee increase on March 31, minutes show the board approved motions to:
• approve 16th Section residential and farm leases for Stacy Farley, Earlene Hodges and Reeves Farms.
• accept the notification from the education coordinator of Mississippi Veterans Affairs that County Veterans Service Officer certification has been extended from expiring on June 1 until another CVSO training session can be scheduled after the coronavirus situation resolves. CVSO David Ellison will continue to be paid in the meantime.
• hire John Dendy as a part-time 911 dispatcher effective immediately.
• hire lawyer Jan Butler to prosecute the case State vs. Donald Hersom in Webster County Justice Court. The county prosecuting attorney, Henry Ross, has recused himself.
• authorize the chancery clerk to move the $519,290 recently wired into the county’s general bank account for an Emergency Road and Bridge Repair project to the proper bank account.
April 6
On April 6, supervisors authorized the board president to sign an application from the Sheriff’s Department for a Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
County resident Barry Cole appeared before the board about a tax-delinquent parcel. Tax Assessor-Collector Barbara Gore was also called into the boardroom.
Cole said he didn’t pay the taxes on the parcel in question because, “I didn’t get a notice that said I owed taxes.”
Gore confirmed Cole didn’t know the taxes were delinquent, but said the notice was mailed and she did not know why he didn’t receive it.
“I paid every card in the envelope (with notices for other parcels he owns),” Cole said.
The fees and penalties as of that day were about $311 and Cole said he wanted to pay the actual 2018 taxes less penalties. The parcel was sold at last year’s tax sale even though Cole said it wasn’t published in any of the newspaper issues with the delinquent tax list provided by the tax assessor’s office.
“This is a mistake and I had nothing to do with it. … There’s got to be some provision to take care of mistakes,” said Cole, who later added, “I want some relief.”
Supervisors told Cole that board attorney Buchanan Meek Jr., who was asked about the issue on April 3, had instructed the board it could not legally exempt taxes, penalties or fees. Gore also said she could not do anything since the parcel had gone through the tax sale.
“It’s illegal for us to do away with tax fees,” board President Pat Cummings told Cole. “The board cannot do away with any of that.” Additionally, Gore said she couldn’t give Cole credit on next year’s taxes for the fees and penalties if he paid the bill in full.
Meek was unable to attend that day’s meeting but Cummings said he would ask him again if anything else could be done, and Gore said she would also seek additional advice on the matter.
