Winston Co. Supervisor's Meeting - April 4

Winston County Board of Supervisors met today (April 4) in a regular session. In addition to normal business items, the Board dealt with some of the following items:

Tim Palmer of the Winston-Choctaw County Regional Correctional Facility requested funds and approval for personnel to attend an Inmate Legal Assistance Program in Ridgeland on April 9th; informed the Board of two resignations at the facility and asked the Board to consider a request for the hiring of booking personnel at the facility to work from 5pm til 1am Tuesday through Saturday. Palmer indicate that the current staff barely meets the needs to complete specific requirements from the MDOC. He also suggested that the new position could possibly be combined with a part-time dispatcher for the Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Sheriff’s Deputy David Edwards indicated concern about 911 calls not being forwarded and also about dispatchers not checking on officers on calls. He indicated that the 911 dispatcher was responsible for following up on all law enforcement officers who make traffic stops or specific calls but that in some cases, dispatchers were not doing so. Supervisor Estes agreed to arrange a meeting with the Board of Aldermen, Mayor and 911 Coordinator to see if the issue can be worked out. Edwards also indicated that the lack of a bonded employee who also had access to Court System Computer records after hours and on weekends sometimes resulted in individuals, who had the desire & ability to pay a fine, still being required to remain in jail until Monday mornings. Edwards stated that he had a problem with bringing someone in to pay a $150 fine after 5 pm on Friday but because no one was available to accept the money and/ or without access to computer records, that individual must remain in jail until Monday morning. Edwards requested that $12,000 in public service grant funds be transferred to the Sheriff’s Department to pay for clerical personnel to continue working on processing older warrants and fines and to cover the costs of bonding of this employee. Edwards noted that there are more than $1 million dollars in older fines that have never been collected. He added that currently, there is no direct access to Justice Court records/fines/fees from the Sheriff’s Department but a computer interface is planned at some point in the future.

Supervisors also heard from two insurance companies offering employee option benefits to county employees. The insurance firms were requesting permission to discuss the plans with employees. These plans were at employee discretion and involve payroll deduction - not a direct cost to the county.

Jerry Smith indicated to the Board that an Energy Grant in excess of $102,000 had been approved to make improvements to the courthouse including air conditioning unit replacement, window replacement or enhancement and more efficient electrical lighting. The grant contract was submitted for review by the county attorney.

A taxpayer requested relief from a $1748 garbage bill. The individual had moved from the property in question, however had failed to change his official residence. As a result, a lien was placed on his car tag. After review of the data, the Board determined that by state law they did not have the authority to reduce or waive the fee.

Board member Larry Duran indicated that there has been several complaints about garbage trucks stopping on the wrong side of the road when picking up household garbage. Concerns were expressed about safety and liability.

Claudell Weaver requested labor assistance from the county for work on Dean Park.

The Board approved the purchase of a backhoe for District 3, approved a computer support contract and a court filing fee for the Circuit Clerk’s office, reviewed the information for the privilege license of the Imperial Palace on hwy 14w, discussed the transfer of property from the county to the city with Economic Development Director, Gerald Mills, approved transfer of funds involving area Volunteer Fire Depts. and approved funds for the County Coroner to attend the Coroner’s Conference.

The County Board was also informed by County Attorney Hathorn that the county had been named (along with the state) in a “wrongfully convicted” lawsuit brought by the family of “Slim” Hudson, whose conviction was overturned. Mr. Hudson has since passed away.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2011.