- After last meeting's public hearings on road closures, the Board voted to close a section of Walker Road in District 2, and Firetower Road in District 1. There was no public comment for either of these closures. There was public comment on the suggested closure of a portion of the James Whitten Road in District 4. Additionally, several individuals appeared at this meeting as well in opposition of the closure. County Attorney Hathorn indicated that legally - further discussion was limited unless the Board reopened the hearing. After discussion among Board members, District 4 Supervisor Turnipseed moved to leave the section of road open due to the public opposition to closure and this was approved by the Board.
- The Board heard from Economic Development Director Gerald Mills concerning several issues including the dismantlement of the Georgia Pacific Facility in Louisville. Mills indicated that Governor Barbour had contacted the CEO of GP in an attempt to keep the facility intact to encourage other companies to purchase or lease the property. GP refused to do this however and the company will begin to dismantle the equipment and that the city of Louisville will likely get the real estate back sometime next year. Mills indicated that there had been interest in the facility but GP likely did not want a competing facility at the location. Mills also briefed the Supervisors on the cost to repair the sprinkler system at the Teeters facility and that an MDA grant would likely be available with Board approval to cover much of this cost. He also indicated that a final draft of a 5 year lease with Teeters was needed. Mills also requested permission from the Board to investigate the possibility of establishing a woodyard on County property near the chip mill on Giffin Industrial Drive. The Board approved the request but ownership of the acreage considered has been questioned. And finally, Mills informed the Board that while Kingsford Charcoal had made some investment in the area and still had plans to build a facility in Winston County, the economic downturn had delayed any construction until 2015.
- Heard from Bubba Hudspeth concerning taxes assessed by the Tallahaga Watershed District. Board Attorney Hathorn indicated that research showed that the Board of Supervisors had no authority to do away with the assessment unless approved by the Watershed Commissioners or by order of the Chancery Court. The Chancery Court order that established the district indicated 30 years of assessment or "as long as the watershed existed and maintenance was required. Hathorn advised Hudspeth to ask the Watershed Commissioners to remove the assessment or take the matter to Chancer Court.
- The Board also heard from Tax Assessor Brenda Miles on several matters - Miles provided new renditions for corrections to AT&T assessments. She also informed the Board that the equipment removal by GeorgiaPacific would likely result in a loss of $111,000 to the county and a total loss to all taxing authorities in the county in the neighborhood of $400,000. She also informed the Board that if the Roseberg Facility did not re-open within a year of it's December closing, it would lose it's tax exempt status.
- Tim Palmer from the Winston Choctaw County Correctional Facility brought several matters before the Board, including an update on the funding and replacement of the Facility's control board. He also encouraged the Board to accept the telephone contract with CCI. The Board had previously tabled the contract approval until the new Board is seated in January. Palmer indicated that the MDOC encouraged the facility to use CCI because of consistency with current systems used by the Department of Corrections. He also indicated that the Winston County facility could be in line for an increase in prisoner population due to the closing of a facility in the Mississippi delta and that the lack of a contract with CCI could make negotiations with MDOC more difficult. The increase in prisoner population could provide significant revenue to the facility whereas a decrease in prisoner population would likely force layoffs. - The Board voted to continue to table any decision until January. Supervisor Peterson indicated that he was not happy with the possibility that MDOC could be interfering on county contract negotiations. Supervisor Duran supported Warden Palmer but also had concerns - "You (Palmer) run the show up there and you're supposed to know what's best for the County but I don't like this held over our heads."
- The Board also reviewed the beer licensing of the Imperial Palace run by Frank Miller. A review of the last 2 quarters' receipts indicated that the property had not met the 75% food sales requirement to maintain it's license to sell beer. The existing license expired on October 31. David Edwards indicated that the Sheriff's Department would not sign a beer license due to ongoing problems at the property. The Board tabled any further decision until legal questions could be answered about the proper procedure to allow reinstatement of such a license.
The full agenda of the Board can be seen at the Winston County Chancery Clerk's Office.
W. McCully
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