On Wednesday afternoon, the county was forced to close a bridge on Bethel Road.
According to Montgomery County Chancery Clerk Ryan Wood, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors received a mandate to close the bridge on Bethel Road, which is located about a quarter mile from Highway 407 near Poplar Creek.
“This mandate comes from the Federal Bridge Inspection Program, which ordered it closed immediately due to deteriorating pilings that will effect load ratings,” Wood said. “Montgomery County is working diligently to get the repairs done in a timely manner, but the bridge cannot reopen until all repairs have been addressed. Please avoid this area as much as possible.”
In Tuesday’s regular meeting of the board, supervisors discussed the process of getting all county polling places compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
“Polling places have to be ADA assessable by May 1,” said Alan D. Lancaster, county attorney. “That includes heating and air conditioning.”
Montgomery County Circuit Clerk Lanelle Martin told the board that the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office provides a check list for what is necessary at each polling place.
“There is grant around $14,000 in grant money available for the election commissioners to get computers, but we can’t apply until all polling places are ADA compliant.”
Martin suggested each supervisor accompany an election commissioner to all polling places within each district with the check list to determine what work must be done prior to May 1.
In other business:
• Montgomery County Emergency Operations Director Allan Pratt told the board that securing an office for the new Mississippi Emergency Management Agency representative for the area has been completed. Pratt said District Attorney Doug Evans said his staff can use the old Forestry office at the Montgomery County Courthouse while court is in session, and the new MEMA agent can take his office at the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center.
• Pratt told the board he is interviewing full-time dispatchers next week, however, he requested the board hire Josh McLaughlin as a part-time dispatcher. The board voted to accept Pratt’s recommendation.
• The board approved the sale of a 2014 Tahoe belonging to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department to the Town of Duck Hill for $4,900. Sheriff Bubba Nix told the board he had gotten approval from Rural Development to sell the vehicle.
• The board recessed until Thursday, February 28 at 8 a.m.
