The Monday, Feb. 24, Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting was lengthy and covered much business. The first major matter of business was brought before the Board by North Carrollton Mayor Ken Strachan, Extension Office Agent Tracy Boone, and Carroll County Development Association member William Vaugh. The topic of interest was proposing a Multipurpose Center for Carroll community events to be built in place of the old North Carrollton baseball fields. Much work is expected for a project of this size, however the presenters assured it would be a worthwhile investment for the county as a whole. The main reason for bringing this issue before the Board was due to some of the ball park overlapping onto county property. The project would need Board approval for the use of said property before any plans could be approved or put in motion. On a motion made by Beat 4 Supervisor Claude Fluker and seconded by Beat 3 Supervisor Dill Tucker, the Board unanimously approved the use of the land for the Multipurpose Center project.
The next matter of business was brought before the Board by Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility Warden Brandon Smith. Warden Smith reported that two air conditioning units in the facility are in need of repair or replacement. According to Board Clerk Casey Carpenter, any work exceeding the cost of $75,000 requires that the Board bid the work out and advertise for quotes. The estimated quote for the necessary repairs given by Warden Smith to the Board was $86,000. On a motion made by Beat 2 Supervisor Josh Hurst and seconded by Beat 5 Supervisor Randy Browning, the Board approved to advertise for bids to repair the two units at the CCRCF with all in favor.
Following this, the Board moved on to discuss the request from Southern District Constable Travis Gatewood for the purchase of one MSWIN handheld radio. The approximate quote for the radio that was given was $2,000. However, it was noted by Board Clerk Carpenter that there were not enough funds in the Constable Budget to cover the purchase of this equipment.
“If y’all decide to do it, we’re probably looking at close to $2,000 - it’ll have to be taken out of the General Fund, or we can amend,” Clerk Carpenter informed the Board.
After some discussion about where the money could be moved from, Supervisor Fluker suggested that the item of business be tabled until the Monday, March 3 meeting. The Board agreed with this course of action.
The final major matter of discussion during the meeting was regarding the purchase of one new Exmark mower in the amount of $13,359. The mower would be utilized in Carrollton to care for the library, EOC, and DHS grounds. Clerk Carpenter advised the Board that this equipment would be purchased using state contract money.
“I will try to get it down, well I assume we can. On that state contract website it’s a little cheaper,” Clerk Carpenter advised the Board regarding the state contract monies.
After a deal of discussion, the purchase of one new Exmark mower in the amount of $13,359 was approved by the Board on a motion made by Supervisor Fluker and seconded by Supervisor Browning with all in favor. The cost is expected to be amended to the building/grounds budget.
In other news the Board
• Approved to advertise in The Winona Times/Conservative 2025 Profile magazine at the price of $1,100 for a full page ad.
• Agreed to the payment of one claim for the Carroll County Tax Assessor/Collector contract with Midsouth Copier Systems, Inc. in the amount of $516.77.
• Agreed to stop payment, void, and reissue three checks in the amount of $1,508 each which were made out to AT&T but were never received by the company.
• Approved the estimates sent on Feb. 12, 2025 to the USDA Office for 100% grants.
• Agreed to apply for one unmarked truck tag for the Sheriff’s department.
• Approved to reimburse Deputy Adam Jennings to attend a gang and narcotics conference in Destin, FL the week of March 16 through 19, 2025.
• Agreed to open an Amazon account for the county and make Casey Carpenter, Christy Noah, and Kim Smith the 3 administrators to place orders on the account.
• Agreed to spread the following items to the minutes: Durward Stanton hired Kendi Brook Jones effective Feb. 2, 2025. Beat 4 received a USDA reimbursement for a dump truck in the amount of $48,200. CCRCF January 2025 Meal Report. Reimbursement received for County Road 235, 157 Site 2 and CR 218 in the amount of $88,802.79. SAP 8(8)M funds were received in the amount of $97,287.31. Fiscal Year 2025 Bridge Posting for CR 177. Casey Carpenter Certificate of Completion for Chancery Court Clerks Continuing Education Course. MASIT Policy Change for junked vehicles. Letter from Life Help to the Board of Supervisors per House Bill 1640. Voided invoice from Mid South Machinery in the amount of $2,578.50.
• Approved to adjourn until Monday, March 3, 2025 in the Carrollton Courthouse at 9 a.m.
