WALTHALL —Webster County leaders have been busy preparing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year,
The Board of Supervisors began working on the budget on July 23, and continued doing so on July 29, July 31, Aug. 5-7 and Monday. The board recessed until 8:30 a.m. Thursday for another budget work session.
These additional matters were handled by the board during meetings from July 15-Aug. 5:
July 15
In addition to previously reported business on July 15, the board conducted a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed purchase of vehicles for the Sheriff’s Department.
Spencer Broocks of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District said the county is eligible for a 15% grant from USDA Rural Development up to a maximum of $50,000 and the county could use local funds to complete the total project costs.
July 23
On July 23, minutes indicate the board interviewed four finalists for the deputy Justice Court clerk opening: Makaila Morton, Judy Wilker, Loren Rushing and Minnita Marshall. The finalists were recommended from 21 applications by a three-member advisory committee.
Additionally, the board accepted the resignation of Britney Sims as a part-time worker in the Circuit Clerk’s Office effective July 31.
July 29
On July 29, the board approved motions to:
• appoint Debbie Knight of Bellefontaine as District 2’s advisory person to the GTPDD.
• hire Nicole Hernandez as part-time deputy circuit clerk effective immediately.
• allow and direct the District 1 road crew to go upon the property of Rusty Bowen on Eudy Avenue to remove brick and concrete being donated as riprap.
July 31
On July 31, the board approved motions to:
• authorize the president, clerk and board attorney to sign contract documents for an Emergency Road and Bridge Repair-Surface Transportation Program project on Tomahawk Road on behalf of the county.
• send a letter of intent to meet conditions to USDA Rural Development concerning a grant to District 3 for a tractor, with various conditions to be met by Aug. 30.
• hire Tanner Pritchard as a part-time dispatcher at E-911.
• advertise various county inventory for sale.
Aug. 5
On Aug. 5, the board went into executive session twice to discuss personnel separately with and at the request of Sheriff Andy McCants and Justice Court Judge Rebecca Ellison (District 2).
After meeting with McCants and returning to open session about 15 minutes later, the board voted to promote Kendall Gibson from part-time to full-time dispatcher at the sheriff’s office, effective immediately. No action was taken after the board met with Ellison and came back into open session about 25 minutes later. However, supervisors did discuss the need to determine whether or not Justice Court’s computer system is outdated.
Also during the meeting, board President Pat Cummings approved a requisition from the sheriff to order four bulletproof vests on state contract price. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Department is advertising to hire a full-time certified deputy.
Justice Court Clerk Lisa Dean asked the board if she could relocate to the now-vacant tax assessor’s office in the Webster County Office Building because she needs the larger space. Board members told her they felt she should remain in her current office for safety purposes because it is more isolated from public access than the other.
The board accepted the final request for cash payment on the grant-funded project extending water and sewer systems and building an access road at Walthall’s Dollar General. The request made by Webster County to the Appalachian Regional Commission is for $56,486.75, with the county’s 30% match being $27,360.95 for a total of $83,847.70.
The motion also authorized the clerk to pay these invoices within three days of receiving the funds: $63,809.70 to Double S. Inc., $15,000 to the GTPDD, and $5,038 to Willis Engineering.
In other business Aug. 5, the board approved motions to:
• direct all personnel at the E911 Center to submit to the board a copy of their certification for the positions they hold by 8:30 a.m. Aug 7.
• allow Youth Court Clerk Irene Surma to attend the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System training seminar Aug. 19 and 21 in Starkville.
• accept the findings of the Mississippi Department of Revenue as to homestead exemptions chargebacks and instruct the tax assessor to put them back on the tax roll. The motion was to also note on the minutes that MDR had found Webster County is in compliance, the tax assessor has supplied a correct copy of recapitulation of the real and personal assessment rolls of the county, and the Board of Supervisors may pay the assessor additional compensation.
• accept from the Webster County School Board the list of proposed schoolbus turnarounds for 2019-20 and to maintain them as requested through the end of the school year.
