County hears building and grounds report

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors is hearing from new appointees, Simpson Stroupe, director of building and grounds, David Johnson, new zoning administrator, and Gary Anderson, who was recently reappointed as county consultant to the Legislature in Jackson.

Stroupe said he is checking out the voting precincts to make sure they are ready for elections this year. Hudsonville precinct is getting some upgrades with bathroom facilities after donation of a strip of land for the precinct by Tom and Jane Heineke. The precinct will get running water and bathrooms.

Board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith said the board will have to get the property surveyed first before proceeding with installing bathrooms and a well at Hudsonville Precinct.

District 2 supervisor Johnny Walker said the property is about three-fourth’s of an acre.

“She (the Heineke’s) envisions a little park there,” he said. “It is fully wooded, but junk trees.” “And we are working on the other one,” he said, referring to Early Grove precinct.

Smith said the county has prepared a contract to use Early Grove precinct this year and wants to survey land for it.

The board approved a motion to hire a surveyor to draw up the papers for a transaction.

Some community centers will be getting improved roofing and be used as warming centers.

The hand rails are up at Isaac Chapel Rosenwald School, Stroupe said. A structural engineer is needed to work on the courthouse floor. And shingles are falling off the roofs of some community centers, he said.

And a problem with plaster cracking on courthouse interior walls is also being assessed.

Stroupe cited an estimate to put a tin roof on community centers at $2,500. And Vanguard heaters should be purchased for warming centers.

Stroupe recommended the county buy tin, the roofing material, and hire a contractor to install it.

Supervisors questioned if the shingles should be removed before putting on tin and, if not, would there be a problem with moisture collecting under the tin.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked if condensation would be a problem is the tin is installed on slats.

“You usually shouldn’t have moisture,” Stroupe said.

District 5 supervisor Ronnie O’Neil Bennett said a moisture barrier should be put in place to make sure the deck is good.

“Put a base sheet and put tin on top,” Bennett said.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said if slats are put up to attach the tin to, visqueen has to be put down to protect the shingles.

Stroupe said he will get estimates using both methods.

“You usually shouldn’t have moisture,” he said.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III expressed concern the plaster is breaking off some of the interior walls of the courthouse.

Stroupe said moisture is coming through the brick and possibly also gutters that are located inside the brick wall could be leaking causing the plaster to buckle and peel.

David Johnson, in training to fill the zoning administrators spot once filled by Ken Jones, asked Stroupe about gas heaters that are going to be installed in warming centers.

Stroupe said Vanguard gas heaters are under consideration and water heaters and showers may be needed.

“I don’t think there need to be showers in warming centers,” Terry said. “They are not staying in warming centers long term.

Stroupe said the warming centers have to be made handicapped assessable.

Johnson, in his report, said Randall Swaney, owner of Marshall Steakhouse, has requested approval to present a project to the planning commission for review.

He said Swaney needs to receive a letter from the board of supervisors that says the planning commission has approved his development plan, so he can get the bank to loan him money for the project.

“Is just asking for a letter, the issue?” Terry asks.

Terry said what Swaney agreed upon has not been done.

Board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith said Swaney is not asking for anything but a letter.

“Just send the letter out and present the drawings to the planning commission,” said Ken Jones. “We’re not asking y’all to lift any restrictions. He would have to go back and rezone.”

Smith said she wants to make sure what the board would be approving.

“He may be asking for this board’s blessing,” she said. “Do you typically grant planning’s approval first?”

“We have a board order stating he cannot do anything anything until these other problems are solved,” Jones said.

Terry said Swaney is trying to get a loan to make improvements. The board would not be giving him permission to go forward with anything.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said there is no problem keeping Swaney from going before the planning commission.

“We can’t because of restrictions,” Jones said.

He said two buildings have not been completed and the parking lot has not been paved.

“We’re not approving anything other than to see if this project can go forward,” he said.

Taylor said he wants to make sure the board is fair and consistent in its actions.

“Why can’t he just go to zoning?” Taylor asked.

Terry said he does not want the board to be a hindrance to anyone to do things to enhance what the county has.

Taylor said he wants to know if the county would be obligated to approve Swaney’s project, if he gets the loan.

“No,” Smith said. “They have to complete everything before he can go back,” Terry said. “The work has to be completed before letting Swaney ask for a permit. Following that discussion the board approved the costs of David Johnson to get materials to study for and take accreditation of the International building codes exam.

Anderson update

County consultant Gary Anderson presented a list of legislative bill requests – 12 local and private resolutions. Out of the 12, three did not get unanimously voted on, Anderson said. Nine of the 12 have been filed as bills in the House of Representatives,” he said.

Some of those included: · a bill to establish a local sales taxing district, filed Friday, March 1. · a house bill filed for Marshall County to get a food pantry approved. · a house bill filed for Marshall County to get a Road and Bridge Bill, not yet filed in the senate. Anderson said he wants the bill to also be filed in the Senate so the bill would get broad support. · a sports betting bill. The Senate said it would support the bill which would give 12 percent of the revenues to counties. The bill was expected to pass in March.

Supervisors’ report

Zinn said Healthy Home Pest Control wants to provide service for the county. He said if the Rosenwald School has not been treated, he wants it sprayed.

Taylor said there is a problem with speeders coming out of DeSoto County cutting through to work and speeding on their way back home is a danger to the communities. He asked that a speed limit sign that shows the motorist’s speed be priced and put out in rural areas in the county where needed.

He said the Victoria Fire Department needs some engine work that would run about $13,000. The board approved the work.

“Money well spent,” said Bennett.

Circuit Clerk

Monet Autry, circuit clerk, thanked those who helped her office while she was out for surgery.

She said Poll workers, beginning January 1, 2024, are to be paid $10 each way to take poll boxes out to the precinct and $10 to returned them to the courthouse.

She said the state has increased the pay to $25 and also pays for travel, a separate issue, for workers living outside the city limits.

The maximum pay is $200, she said.

“It can be a late night for them,” said Taylor.

Autry said the poll boxes never leave the chain of custody going to the precincts and returning to the courthouse.

The worker picks up the box and election materials and have it at the precinct by the next morning, then return the box back to the courthouse when the polls close.

The board passed a motion to increase the pay according to state law.

Susie Hill’s report

Hill reported for chancery clerk Nicole Phelps who was out.

She asked for travel for Tax Assessor Barbara Belfoure to attend training for Class I and II in Starkville.

She asked for a motion to approve a slight increase in Airwings service to the county, and it was approved.

Hill presented a surviving spouse list for homestead applications, to be used to file for homestead. A letter is sent out to the surviving spouse reminding them to sign up for themselves. The board approved the letter to be sent out.

Deputy Mark Kaply was to attend drone training and Kelly Autry was approved for travel for required training at the state academy.

The claims docket of $841,045 was approved by the board.

County Administrators report

County administrator Tim Powell asked for travel for Barbara Moore to travel for veteran’s affairs training.

The board also authorized a new state phone system serving the Department of Human Services and Child Protective Services. The state has been paying half of the phone bill but now will pay all of it, Powell said.

Supervisors and other officials will attend the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust risk management training in August.

Taylor said he wants a list of questions to take to the training so answers can be obtained on what affects the county’s insurance risk.

An engineering firm will be brought in to inspect the floor of the courthouse and recommend steps needed to see what is needed done to guarantee the longevity of the courthouse.

Comcast serving Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee is sending a map with 470 addresses the company will provide Internet service to in the county, Powell said.

Smith recommended the county allow other Internet providers an opportunity to compete for customers for cable and Internet service.

Terry said he is concerned about franchisees now for customers.

“There’s no exclusivity and anybody has the right to compete,” Smith said.

Powell said the company wants an easement to come through the county.

Zinn said there is a dire need for fiber now.

“I certainly think they ought to come in and don’t want to knit pick them to death,” Zinn said. “I would like them to come in and to present it,” he said.

Grace Bonds came before the board to discuss property insurance.

She said after April 1, the $10,000 deductible will increase to $25,000.

Bonds said the county is a member of an insurance trust – Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust.

Taylor said there is a $19 million excess in the trust fund.

Bonds said the county has $40 million insurance on just the county owned buildings.

“One good tornado would do a lot of damage,” Bonds said.

Thirty-five Mississippi counties are members of MASIT, Taylor said.

Taylor asked where the amount of money in the Trust is enough. The trust was formed eight or nine years ago, he said.

“The reserve has gotten bigger and bigger,” he said. “We have a piece of that trust.” He said the trust has grown so wealthy that the cities and school boards want to be in the trust.

“That’s why I want y’all to go to the convention,” he said to supervisors.

“Insurance is my pet project,” Bonds said. “I live it and breath it everyday.” The auto damage deductible in the county is $2,500, Bonds said.

The board approved a motion to renew Bonds as the agent of record for the insurance.

County road and bridge manager Mario Jeffries asked the board to approve and sign the county’s waste tire grant.

In the attorney’s report, Smith said she wants to make sure the board passed resolutions that would allow the late Eddie Dixon and Charles and Juanita Thomas to have portions of county roads named in their honor.

The new rule in the legislature only allows one mile of a road to be named for a person, Smith said.

The board then went into executive session to discuss personnel, litigation strategy, and discuss a claim that a motorcyclist said his accident was caused by loose gravel on Edwards Road.

A claim to repair damage to Gary Anderson’s family yard by a suspect fleeing county law enforcement was considered.

Barrett Ash Landscaping bid $3,000 for material and work to repair the yard. The board passed a motion to let the county road department repair the yards of Anderson and a neighbor.