Emotions expressed at last supervisors’ board meeting

Juanita Dillard, tax assessor, and district 2 supervisor Maxine Dixon both expressed appreciation to the board of supervisors and county officials and some regrets, along with relief at their last meeting with the Marshall County Board of Supervisors Dec. 18. District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett was at his last meeting in his official capacity as president of the board of supervisors.

“It’s the last time I come before you, the last time,” said Dillard.Her last official act was to turn in the 2023 Homestead rolls and the real and personal property rolls.

“We gonna miss you,” said District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Dillard said. “I started in 1983 and had 40 years with the county. It’s been a blessing. I’ve enjoyed working with you all.”

“No words,” said Maxine Dixon, who filled out the remainder of her late husband’s term as supervisor of District 2, after Eddie Dixon died following a vehicle accident.

Dixon said she served the remainder of her husband’s term because she knew he would want her to do so.

Chancery Clerk Nicole Phelps also expressed sorrow upon Bennett leaving his post.

“Mr. Ronnie Joe, I’m going to miss you,” she said. “I’m kind of emotional now and for Mrs. Dixon as well.”

State representative Bill Kinkade, who dropped in to the meeting to give plaques of appreciation to supervisors Dixon and Bennett, thanked the board for their good working relationship. Bennett and Kinkade quipped at their sometimes seemingly adversarial positions they took in the boardroom.

“I appreciate your support and I’m proud of what you do,” he said to Bennett.

In true form, Bennett replied, “I love you, too, Bill.”

Some of the last items on the agenda for year 2023 included the following:

• presentation of a plat for a minor subdivision at Rossville Road and U.S. Highway 72. The four-lot subdivision, built by Earl Warren, will consist of lots of about two acres, according to zoning administrator Ken Jones.

• discussed a 25-foot easement on the north side of Lee Creek Road and Cayce Road. Jones said a 40-foot easement was discussed that would consist of a 25-foot easement, as on the south side of Lee Creek Road, with an additional 15-foot easement that would be used as green space. Jones said the developer would not build on the 15-feet of green space in Phase 2 of Cayce Point subdivision. Phase 2 will consist of townhouses, he said.

• approved travel for chancery clerk Nicole Phelps to a clerk’s conference in February 2024.

• authorized training for deputies in narcotics.

• heard an email read aloud expressing appreciation to District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor for support of the Garden Club in Byhalia, sent to the board by Kathy Worthy.

• approved claims for $419,000.

• heard a request from coroner James Richard Anderson for a pauper’s funeral.

• extended tax exemption status to Cooper Tire to September 30, 2024. Cooper Tire has met its job requirements for the exemption, said Justin Hall, executive director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority. The ad valorem tax agreement with Design Group was also approved.

• learned an interior road at CORE 5 will be dedicated to the county after bond is set for the second lift of asphalt the county requires.

• tabled a discussion of a solid waste agreement grant application until it goes before the solid waste committee for approval.

• approved payment of estimate #7 for $498,509 for the Bethlehem Bridge project. The county expenditure will be reimbursed by the State of Mississippi. The bridge replacement is a project of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

• approved purchase of two Sharp office copy machines at the circuit clerk’s office.

• learned that meal reimbursement for travel has been recommended to be raised from $46 a day to $59 a day. Supervisors left the request for the increase for action by the next board in 2024.

• discussed the procedure for travel requests for election commissioners. Two precincts were also discussed. Hudsonville precinct will not be changed before next election year. And a church that is being used as a precinct also had requested payment for its use in past elections.

• approved a pay claim from Barnes and Brower for $65,061 for jail construction. The balance left in the account is $318,939, said county administrator Tim Powell.

• approved budget transfers for the fairground and 911 to keep money flowing to these county facilities into 2024.

• authorized a resolution to the Mississippi Legislature, introduced by supervisor Taylor, to raise the salaries of senators and congressmen, since these positions have not had pay increases since 1992.

• heard a recommendation by circuit clerk Monet Autry to purchase land for Early Grove precinct and have the poll built in time for primary elections in 2024.

Election commissioner Marsha Taylor said land for the precinct should be purchased because the old location is no longer available for rent. A building with restrooms was recommended to be located to serve the Hudsonville precinct, also.

“It needs to be in the forefront for January 2, 2024,” Autry said.

Autry said Hudsonville will be o.k. for the March primary elections but Early Grove needs to be established now.

“We have to have these things in place or that is going to put Marshall County in a huge predicament,” Autry said.

• discussed the procedure for keeping alive the Blackwater Road Bridge elevation project. County engineer Larry Britt said the county has until 2025 to spend $500,000 on the bridge and road elevation. He said the bridges should be elevated about 7 feet prior to raising the roadbed. During flooding residents are having to drive 15 miles out of the way to go around the flood waters, he said.

He suggested the $500,000 be held for possible use as inkind matching funds in the event the legislature approves an allocation for the construction next legislative session.

“Hold that money to use for in-kind work,” said District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett. “The bridges have to be built first.”

A set of plans and an environmental study have already been paid for and completed, Britt said.