CARROLLTON -- The Carroll County Board of Supervisors voted to purchase a 59.7 foot long, 10 foot in diameter train tanker car from Railroad Yard Incorporated for $13,731 to replace a damaged culvert on County Road 8 in Beat 5.
According to Board President Rickie Corley, the tanker car, with the ends removed, will be used to replace an old pipe that no longer works with the drainage it faces regularly. The bid included delivery to the work site.
The county’s bridge woes were once again the topic of conversation at Monday’s regular meeting of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors. Corley recommended the board hold several town hall meetings in the county to inform Carroll County’s citizens of the bridge situation and explain various funding options to repair or replace the bridges needed.
“I would highly recommend you have some meetings in the evenings,” County Attorney Kevin Horan said. “I think there is a lot of misinformation out there. The board didn’t choose to close those bridges. They were forced to close them.”
Horan suggested County Engineer Shane Correro create a “critical need list” of the closed bridges that are having the greatest impact on the county.
“This is a very important subject,” Horan said. “This involves public safety and the possibility of raising taxes.”
Currently, Carroll County does not have the funds to repair or replace all the bridges currently closed. Without help from the state, the county may have to look at passing a bond bill to borrow money to pay for repairs.
“Sooner or later, [the bridge problem] is going to affect everyone in the county,” Corley said.
Supervisor Claude Fluker said there may be matching grants available to help stretch the county’s money.
Supervisor Jim Neill feels like the Mississippi Legislature needs to raise the fuel tax to help fund repairs to the state’s roads and bridges. The last time the fuel tax was raised was 1987, Neill said.
“[The fuel tax] is the only fair tax bill out there,” said Supervisor Terry Brown.
Supervisors asked for a list of the county’s top priorities of bridges and roads that need repaired or replaced can be made to determine just what needs to be focused on so a cost could be determined.
In other county business:
• The Carroll County Board of Supervisors named Andy Vining as the county’s interim fire coordinator.
At the board’s regular meeting Monday, the resignation of current county fire coordinator, Art Hicks, was accepted. Supervisor Jim Neill nominated Vining, the current fire chief for the Carrollton North Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department to serve as interim. Hicks’ resignation will be affective on May 14, with Vining taking over the duties of the position then.
Dispatcher David Ross was hired as the county’s fire report data entry clerk.
• The board passed a resolution in support of the Community Student Learning Center of Lexington’s efforts to get a federal home loan grant to rehabilitate 75 homes, 15 of which will be in Carroll County.
• The board voted to hire Thomas Johnson as Carroll County’s new Veteran Affairs Officer. Johnson was recommended by the Veterans Helping Veterans of Mississippi organization.
• The board approved Corley to sign a three-year lease extension for University of Mississippi Medical Center to operate the clinic in Vaiden.
• The board voted to re-apply for the Waste Tire Grant.
