Much was covered during the Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday morning.
A few topics were discussed more in depth than others, however, the meeting consisted mostly of routine business followed by votes. The most discussed point on the agenda was concerning Sanitation Department issues brought before the Board by sanitation worker Courtnee Austin. The main point of the discussion was being able to have the Sanitation Department’s budget cover its own needs without requiring assistance from other funds to make ends meet.
“We’re not trying to make money,” Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill said. “We’re just trying to get it to where we aren’t losing a $100,000 a year.”
After much deliberation and the consideration of increased annual pricing by Arrow Disposal Services, Inc., the Board voted on a new garbage service pricing list. All businesses, residents and hunting camps will be charged $20 per trashcan monthly. Businesses and hunting camps will be charged $20 for every additional can, while residents will only be charged $15 per additional can. The tentative date for this change to take effect is March 1.
The Board intends to utilize local newspapers, Facebook, and other methods to notify residents well in advance to the change in pricing.
Another topic discussed at length was the Board’s decision on adding streetlights around the perimeter of the Vaiden Courthouse for better crime deterrence. A few businesses in the area had expressed concerns about how dark the streets were at night, leading to them feeling unsafe.
Beat 5 Supervisor Randy Browning greatly supported the lighting.
“I went through there multiple times and it’s very dark down there and a hazard,” he said. “I’d like to see if there’s a couple lights Entergy can put up there to brighten that area up some.”
The Board also discussed repairs that are needed at the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility following the winter storm. Several pipes in the fire sprinkler system busted due to the freezing temperatures. Storm damage to the facility is estimated to be between $10,675 and $24,760. The Board voted to approve funding for the repair of these damages, motioning for the lowest bid to be accepted.
In other business, the Board:
- Approved reimbursement to Tax Assessor Tammy Inmon and Alison Marshal to attend a Marvis Class Feb. 6-9, in Clinton.
- OK’d Constable Dustin Haddon’s request for the purchase of two bullet proof vests for the Constables.
- Approved a one-year contract with Waste Pro.
- Agreed to rescind a motion made on Dec. 27, 2023, to advertise the sale of a 2004 GMC Sierra.
- Agreed to advertise the sale of a 2003 Chevy 2500.
- Approved the signing of the Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency and Resolution Requesting Governor to Proclaim a State of Emergency.
- Approved a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Grant Application.
- Approved creation of new Local Assistance Grant Funds and moving $100,000 from General Fund to newly created fund.
- Granted a pay increase for Christy Noah, purchasing clerk.
- OK’d the purchase of a new hydraulic excavator for Beat 2 to maintain local roads and bridges.
- Approved the opening of a new bank account and the transfer of $239,252 from the General Fund for a project concerning Bridge 18 on County Road 144 in Beat 4.
- Agreed to pay Willis Engineering $67,288.20 for the Bridge 18 project.
- Voided and reissued a check to Ace Bolt & Screw in the amount of $205.93.
- Approved the reimbursement for Supervisors Josh Hurst, Edward Dill Tucker, Claude Fluker, Neill and Browning; Chancery Clerk Casey Carpenter; Shane Correro of Willis Engineering, and Board Attorney Kevin Horan for future attendance at the Mississippi Association of Supervisors 2024 Annual Convention in Biloxi scheduled for June 10-13.
- Approved the lowest bids on road and bridge materials.
- Approved to pay the following claims: Rob Banks, $3,700 at Vaiden Clinic; Larry Cassiday Bailiff Fees for attending Circuit Court for the November 2023 Term; constables for serving delinquent tax notices; TriState Lumber, not to exceed $900 to haul lumber to repair the bridge on County Road 64; Midsouth Copier Systems, Inc., contract for Tax Assessor Office, $492.16; Willis Engineering, $4,002.49 and Townes Construction Co. Inc., $50,707.85 for County Road 126 and 143 Bank Stabilization; damage repairs in the amount of $3,448.68 for the repair of a vehicle that the Bridge Department backhoe damaged.
- Approved the spread of the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility meal report for December 2023; Karen Carter and Frances William filed semi-annual Administrative Office of Courts reports; 1st and 2nd District land redemption settlements for December 2023; mileage reimbursement rate effective Jan. 1, 2024, as $0.67; 2023 annual maintenance inspection of completed state aid projects; state aid board term revenue projections, and the bridge posting, MS Department of Transportation lab reports.
- Moved the discussion of the Cemetery Petition from Ellen Montgomery Hey and David L. Hey to next meeting on Feb. 5, 2024.
