The Board of Supervisors meeting at the Vaiden Courthouse on Monday, April 29, kicked off with North Carrollton Mayor Ken Strachan leading the prayer. After prayer, Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill consulted with Tax Assessor Tammy Inmon about data entry work needed for auditing. Following this, Mayor Strachan addressed the Board concerning the District Three Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Board President Jim Neill signed an Intent to Participate form, which outlined the terms of the Board’s participation in the plan.
The letter stated, “This participation is limited to allowing county employees to attending meetings with District 3 representatives and others to gather requested information pertaining to Carroll County for inclusion into the plan. There is a 25 percent local government cost share, to be apportioned in whatever manner the local governments see fit.”
In addition to the discussion of the terms and agreement in signing the letter, the Board unanimously agreed to designate Ken Strachan to represent Carroll County in all matters pertaining to the development of the hazard plan.
According to Mayor Strachan, the Board “agreed to go forward and pay the 25 percent when all work is done.”
Mayor Strachan explained the document is essential for obtaining federal funding, and the Board would be working with the state on its completion. Mayor Strachan presented the plan that was adopted in 2021 but made a point that it is necessary to update the plan every four years.
Mayor Strachan stated, “the plan is for the entire county including all three municipalities. The document is kept on file at both the Carrollton and Vaiden courthouses and all three city halls, Carrollton, North Carrollton, and Vaiden.”
He also explained that the plan will include a slew of information including but not limited to demographics, census changes, hazards, and risk ranking by jurisdiction. Mayor Strachan said that the document is over 125 pages in length and once the plan is completed there will be a public hearing set to review the plan before a vote is taken to approve it.
Following this, the Board briefly discussed the reimbursement for Frances Williams, Karen Carter, and Mollie Jenkins to attend a Judicial College Class in Philadelphia on May 14 - 17. The Executive Board meeting starts at 9 a.m. on May 15. The Board’s main concern was anticipating possible office closure, not wanting to do so. The Board discussed the temporary hiring of someone to fill in answering the phones in the office.
The next major topic on the agenda was a long bidding review and acceptance process for various equipment. The Board approved the purchase of one used dump truck for Beat 3 in the amount of $51,000. The Board also accepted the lowest bids for the sale of the following equipment: Beat 2 1978 John Deere Tractor 4430 in the amount of $3,850, Beat 2 1994 Bush Hog 2610 Rotary Cutter in the amount of $3,781.89, Beat 2 1989 John Deere 400G Dozer in the amount of $9,120, and Beat 4 2001 Chevrolet 1500 in the amount of $400. The bid for Beat 4 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 in the amount of $77.77 was not accepted. In addition, Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill motioned to wait for advisements on the bids for the sale of items Beat 1 Rotary Cutter HX15 Flex Wing, Beat 1 1984 Motor Grader 710A Champion, and Beat 1 John Deere 310 SG Backhoe until the May 6 meeting.
The last major topic of the meeting was concerning a pay increase for Sheriff Clint Walker, per Senate Bill 2311 which would be paid out of the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility fund effective after July 1, 2024. Sheriff Walker requested a $10,000 supplement pay increase.
Senate Bill 2311 states, “In addition to the salary provided in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of any county, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed $35,000 dollars. The amount of the supplement shall be spread on the minutes of the board.”
The Board, assessing the law and circumstance, decided to table the discussion of pay increase until the budget is reassessed for the next fiscal year. The Board also cited a recent pay increase request from Circuit Clerk Stanton, which had been tabled as well until the reassessment of the budget.
In other news, the Board:
• Approved quotes for County Road 87 repair, accepting the lowest bid from Townes Construction in the amount of $21,900.
• Accepted the lowest bid for making emergency repairs on County Road 73 due to flooding the week of April 10, 2024, given by Townes Construction in the amount of $55,200.
• Agreed to Beat 2 purchasing a culvert to repair damage on County Road 123 in the amount of $5,728.80.
• Accepted the contract for Local System Bridge Program Project No. LSBP-08(46) in Beat 3.
• Approved for Beat 3 to do a 12-month extension with Stribling on the 210 Hatachi Excavator in the amount of $2,483.56/month.
• Agreed to appoint Rhonda Beck as Jury Commissioner from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2026.
• Approved a USDA Notice of Grant and Agreement Award.
• Agreed to the reimbursement of Constable Travis Gatewood and Constable Dustin Haddon to attend the MCA 2024 Convention and Training Seminar in Gulfport on June 9 - 14 for a nondisclosed amount.
• Moved the approval of quotes to place rock on County Road 219 to the Monday, May 6, meeting.
• Tabled the ARPA transfer discussion till the Monday, May 6, meeting.
• Discussed Waste Tire sites and the need for recording, implementation of gates, and deciding how many sites are needed.
• Agreed to the payment of Willis Engineering for ERBR-08(02) Bridge 18 in the amount of $28,837.80.
• Agreed to the spread of the following items on the Minutes: Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility Meal Report for the month of March 2024. Credit card bill in the amount of $862.40 was paid on 4/9/2024, on file as Exhibit A-1, April 1, 2024, meeting. Grand Jury for recall first and second Districts in the month of April in the amount of $1,431.37. Payment to Election Poll workers for the election that was held on April 2 in the amount of $7,157.12. ARPA report was filed April 16, 2024. Department of Revenue Tax Loss Reimbursement to Carroll County. Employer portion of PERS Reimbursement to the Board of Supervisors for Chancery in the amount of $14. MDEQ Public Notice for Carroll County Treatment Plant. Third Quarter Appropriations to the Sheriff and Tax Assessor/Collector. The Fire Department received 2008 Heavy Variant 4X4, Serial #216888. Had to reissue an insurance check in the amount of $724.79, the check was written in October of 2023 and cleared the bank but was cashed by an unknown person, not the insurance company, check was reissued in April 2024, an investigation is underway. Modernization Expenditure Report for Counties (Internet Tax Use) was filed with MS Department of Revenue on April 16, 2024. MASIT Policy credits. Fiscal Year 2023 EMPG Additional Funding and FEMA 4429 Beat 5 request for withdrawal. Community Students Learning Center/ Affordable Housing Resolution. State Aid Project SABP-08(01) County Road 31 and Release letter for Project LSBP-08(45). Insurance reimbursement check in the amount of $18,800 was received for repairs to the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility due to freezing temperatures around January 14. Carroll County received reimbursement in the amount of $34,008.20 for Project LSBP-08(46). Request for Payment of Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Delta Electric Electrical Bill, Ken Strachan, MEMA for District 3 – Damage Assessment/Crisis Track Certification and FEMA form 90-91 for project 4697.
• Adjourned until May 6 at the Carrollton Courthouse at 9 a.m.
