The Monday, July 7, Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting was short and concise. The meeting began with an invocation given by Carroll County Emergency Management Director Ken Strachan. Following the invocation, the Board immediately proceeded to business.
The first major matter of business for the meeting was regarding the presentation of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors County Employee Scholarship. This scholarship was awarded to two Carroll County youths who are related to current or retired county employees. The recipients of this award were approved during the May 27 meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Previously, during the May 27, meeting, this award was presented to Katherine Mullins, granddaughter of Pete Misskelley. At the current meeting, this award was presented to Carroll Academy class of 2025 graduate, Reid Blaylock. Blaylock is the grandson of retired Beat 5 supervisor Ricky Corley. The MAS County Employee Scholarship award granted to Blaylock and Mullins includes a $500 scholarship to assist in paying towards furthering a student’s education. The award was presented to Blaylock by Board of Supervisors President Jim Neill.
Following the awarding of this scholarship, the Board continued with regular business. The next major matter of business was regarding Beat 2’s request to purchase one new lowboy trailer. Board Clerk Casey Carpenter presented the Board with two quotes obtained for the equipment. The first quote from Waters Truck and Tractor out of Tupelo, MS, was in the amount of $40,710. The second quote from Pitts Trailers in Pittsview, AL, was in the amount of $41,950. Without discussion, Beat 2 Supervisor Josh Hurst motioned to approve the low quote from Waters Truck and Tractor in the amount of $40,710 for the purchase of a new lowboy trailer. This motion was seconded by Beat 3 Supervisor Dill Tucker and passed unanimously.
The next major matter of business was discussed much later in the meeting following a short executive session regarding Eminent Domain and potential litigation faced by the county.
“What we did in executive session was discuss eminent domain on a project on County Road 144. And we’re fixing to have a motion to go forward with eminent domain and negotiating purchase price in advance of eminent domain,” Board Attorney Kevin Horan explained the issue as the regular meeting was reopened to the public.
The Board immediately went on to vote on the matter, with Beat 4 Supervisor Fluker making a motion to go forward with eminent domain and negotiate purchase price in advance. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Tucker with all in favor. County Engineer Shane Correrro with Willis Engineering stated that this matter was related to the CR 144 project ERBR 08(02).
“See, this money - is still state money - but it’s money that we got, that they picked this bridge out and gave us this money. It’s not coming out of our budget,” Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill stated.
“We don’t get to say ‘we want to spend this million elsewhere’,” Board Attorney Horan added.
“They’re going to send the money somewhere else if we don’t use it,” Supervisor Neill added.
The issue was not discussed in depth during open session and the opposing party was not named.
In other news the Board:
• Approved the minutes for the June 2 and 30, 2025 meetings.
• Agreed to reimburse Jimmy Harper for attending VSO Conference.
• Approved reimbursement for Tammy Johnson to attend a class in Mobile, AL September 14 through 19, 2025.
• Agreed to request for Advance or Reimbursement for Emergency Watershed Protection project sites County Roads 104, 105, and 115.
• Approved request for reimbursement forms for EWP sites CR 143, 163, and 238.
• Agreed to relocation and adjustments of Delta Electric Power ROW for project SABP-08(1) on CR 31.
• Approved the public utility roll for Carroll County.
• Accepted the following claims: a credit card payment in the amount of $2,455, Atmos Energy bill for the Carrollton Welfare office in the amount of $95, and Atmos Energy bill for the Superintendent of Education office in the amount of $85.
• Approved reimbursement for Durward Stanton to attend a convention in Biloxi, MS July 9 through 11, 2025.
• Agreed to North Central Planning and Development District submitting a DRA construction pay estimate advance.
• Approved to spread the following items to the minutes: Casey Carpenter, Clerk of the Board, presented the Board the Comparative Budget for the month of June, 2025. Willis Engineering approval letters for projects LSBP-08(47) CR 150, Beat 3 and SABP-08(01) CR 31, Beat 4. Fourth quarter appropriations to the Sheriff’ and Tax Assessor/Collector. Assessed Valuation of Motor Vehicles and Mobile Home. Extension to file property rolls from the Mississippi Department of Revenue. AOC Report for Northern and Southern Districts. Tammy Johnson hired McKenzie Mims full-time. Small Permanent Work Project Certifications and Acknowledgements, Joint Exploratory Call & Recovery Scoping Meeting, DR-4874 and Sign in Sheet for DR-4874.
• Tabled an item regarding quotes to replace the floor tiles in the Carrollton Clinic and an item regarding approval of a private cemetery on Charles Phillips Estate.
