As a first matter of business for the new year, the first half of Monday’s Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting consisted of approving county members positions for the minutes. During this session, the Board elected Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill as Board President and Beat # Supervisor Claude Fluker as Board Vice President for the period of one year, ending in January 2026. The Board then agreed to employ Attorney Kevin Horan as the Board Attorney under the same duration. In addition, the Board agreed to reappoint Casey Carpenter as Comptroller, Ken Strachan as Civil Defense Director and Emergency 911 Coordinator/ Emergency Management Director, George Gillespie as Assistant to Ken Strachan positions, all for a duration of one year, ending in January of 2026.
At this point, Supervisor Josh Hurst recused himself from the meeting for the next matter of business, which was to reappoint his brother, Jacob Hurst, as Fire Coordinator for the county for the duration of a year. Supervisor Hurst rejoined the meeting after the approval of re-appointment with a four to zero vote in favor. Following Supervisor Hurst’s return, the Board approved to re-appoint Christy Noah as Purchase Clerk, Monica Jones as Receiving Clerk, and Durward Stanton as Inventory Clerk for Carroll County for the period of a year ending in January 2026. As the final matter of this nature, the Board approved to re-appoint Rogan Jackson as Bookkeeper/ Assistant Comptroller and Payroll Clerk, Casey Carpenter as Assistant Purchasing Clerk, and Durward Stanton as Assistant Receiving Clerk. All of the aforementioned appointments were agreed upon at present salary. In addition the Board approved to re-employ all current employees at their present salaries until further notice.
In other matters, the Board was expected to have further discussions regarding the company NextEra Resources’ interests in establishing a solar farm in Carroll County. However, no representative from NextEra was present at the current meeting. Next on the agenda, Charles Humphreys appeared before the Board to voice his opinions concerning the anticipated discussions with NextEra regarding the solar farm interests. Firstly, Humphreys asked the Board for clarification regarding the stage of discussion between the Board and NextEra.
“We are in the agreement [phase] right now,” Board President Neill stated.
“We have not reached an agreement?” Humphreys asked.
“We have not,” Supervisor Neill clarified.
Humphreys, an avid challenger of the current push for solar farm implementation throughout Mississippi, presented his position against the project to the Board. He brought up concerns regarding the investment return for the county, citing the current alleged non-payment of taxes from another solar farm within the county.
“That [the agreement with NextEra] sounds very similar to the bell curve we have out here now - and they keep moving the goal post. And I believe they haven’t paid yet, have they?” Humphreys questioned.
“Not to my knowledge,” Supervisor Neill responded.
“Right, so I think that’s a yellow flag,” Humphreys stated.
He explained that while he understands the county’s need for revenue, and this being the reason the county seeks out projects of this nature, he does not agree that solar energy is the appropriate way to seek revenue.
Humphreys cautioned the Board against the solar farm, stating “The previous situation hasn’t turned out very well. I have a lot of reasons here on why we shouldn’t do it, which I believe y’all have heard, but I’m going to presume at the end of the day, the Board is going to move forward and do it anyway. Even though I resent it and I believe a lot of other people do. If you look at Hinds county, there in lawsuits down there with the Board of Supervisors over what they did. The Industrial Board voted seven to nothing against the farm and the people were against the farm but the Board did it anyway. They passed it, and now they’re in litigation”
In addition to this, Humphreys explained that he believed when the solar farms stop receiving subsidies from the government they will quickly be abandoned and become a hazardous waste issue the county will become responsible for.
“I’m going to jump over to a what-if scenario for if the Board believes it is in the best interest of the county to do this, which I don’t think it is,” Humphreys transitioned, beginning to explain how he believes the county should handle the issue. “I’m going to ask you guys to be project managers. Legal needs to prepare a document - which normally is a notice to proceed - that should be generated by the Board. And in that notice to proceed it should be predicated that if [NextEra]’s going to do this, they’ve got to post - say - two to three million dollars up front at the very beginning in advance tax payments. If they’re honest and sincere about doing this, they will put up that money, because it’s the money that’s coming anyway.”
He went on to explain, “You get this notice to proceed, it’s irrevocable, that you will get a down payment of what you decide it to be - and once that is signed you should also put in there some qualifications that the owners of this - whoever they may be - will, at any point at any time should they abandon that farm, return the land to its Make Good Clause. So all these things - if you do all this, you protect the county, you protect yourselves, and it assures us for at least two or three years worth of money.”
Humphreys concluded that this plan of action would best assure that Carroll County would not fall responsible for an abandoned solar farm which could potentially present a hazard. The Board explained that should any steps forward be taken to create an agreement with NextEra, a public meeting would be held to inform residents of the agreement.
Next on the agenda, the Board heard once again from representatives of IOne and Affordable Insurance regarding their proposals for county workers insurance coverage. The Board decided to take both proposals under advisement for close comparison before making a final decision on the matter. As a result, the Board agreed to table the final discussion until a special called meeting set for Friday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. in the Carrollton courthouse.
As a final note on the meeting, Board Clerk Casey Carpenter and President Neill gave an update on the issue regarding Meridian Waste back charging the county which was discussed at the previous meeting. Supervisor Neill explained that the issue had been resolved by Clerk Carpenter and resulted in an agreement that no back charge would take place. Clerk Carpenter stated that he estimated around $5,500 was saved by disputing the back charging.
