NOtes from Winston Co. Supervisor's Meeting on Monday

Winston County Board of Commissioners met today (Monday, Sept 19) in a regularly scheduled meeting. The most controversial item on the agenda was the liquor petition that met statutory requirements to be placed on November’s general election ballot. WWN has more on this issue in the previous post.
In other business, the Board approved an airport project grant agreement with the Ms. Dept of Transportation. The agreement has been previously approved by the city of Louisville.
Approved payment by the Bond Water system to Calvert Spradling & Donald Smith for work completed. The total payments of $4241.50 are the last payments of the project.
The Sheriff’s Department indicated that a van was now available from the Ms. Highway Department for use in trash pickup by inmates. The department had been without use of a van for a period of time. Supervisors asked the Sheriff’s Department to look further into the details of the contract agreement with MDOT before continuing trash pickup.
The Board also authorized the Sheriff’s Department to maintain 3 unmarked vehicles as the State Auditor requires a copy of an order and descriptions of said vehicles.
Supervisor Duran suggested that the Board start earlier to look at future budgets and what could be done to cut costs so that future budget planning would not be so difficult. Suggestions were made to discuss and review budgets on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Attorney Hathorn informed the Board that a meeting with Teeters concerning the lease for the old Spartus property was scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 29 and suggested any available should attend. He also indicated that a potential buyer for an 18,000 gallon propane tank on the Spartus property had asked about the availability of the tank and suggested that the Board consider asking for bids. The Board determined to look at the tank and its condition before taking further action.
Hathorn also indicated that he had reviewed the metes and bounds descriptions of the new redistricting plan and that the county needed a Board order approving the descriptions to send to the Justice Department. The Board approved the descriptions.
The Board also accepted and approved a third bid on warning sirens that was roughly $3000 less than previous bids. The Board was assured by Emergency Management personnel that the sirens were compatible with existing equipment and could be installed in the next 8-10 weeks. The total equipment cost was $39,415 and the county would be responsible for 25% of that cost under a current grant agreement.
The Board issued or approved several purchase orders from various departments, acknowledged receipt of the school district’s and city’s millage rates and discussed a solid waste delinquent bill issue that clouded the title of a new construction of a property and the effect this could have on future grant money for such homes.
The Board also heard from the Justice Court Clerk concerning the operation of that office and particularly the collection of civil and criminal fees and fines. Through August of this year, the court had collected $384,090.85 of which $375,931.85 remained with the county.
Jimmy Kemp asked for a notice to proceed with an engineering contract on the Bluff Lake Road Project most particularly from Beth Eden to Hwy 25. He indicated that the project had received $1,750,000 from earmarked funds from the Public Lands Highway Discretionary Fund. He also indicated that if EPA or other regulatory processes did not slow the project, it could reach completion near the end of 2012. The completed road work would provide access through Tombigbee National Forest and the Noxubee Refuge from the Hwy 25 four lane to Hwy 45. The scenic and rural nature of the drive could be an attraction for the area.
The Board meets again on October 3rd.

W. McCully