Double tracks at Mason Road catching vehicles

A problem with people's cars getting stuck on the tracks at the Mason Road crossing came to light at the Jan. 17 board of supervisors meeting.

“A car got stuck on the track and they had to stop the train,” said District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor.

There were four police reports on it with the Town of Byhalia, he said, when a car got hung on the crossing.

Emergency Management Coordinator Leland Reed told supervisors it is a double track at Mason Road and doesn't really look like it would catch a vehicle.

“They are getting hung up on it,” Taylor said.

Following that discussion, Reed asked supervisors to sign an EMP program grant that helps pay part of his salary.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked Reed if there is a safety plan to be followed at the polls that will protect election workers as requested by the election commissioners.

“They are still interested in a plan,” he said.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry made a motion to ask Reed and the safety coordinator to develop the plan.

“I have something in writing and I want to take it to Amanda (board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith),” Reed said.

Safety on his mind, Zinn asked if the tornado shelter grant application had met deadline for filing.

“We missed our deadline,” Reed said. “If we reapply for it, it has to be placed on county-owned property.”

The 10 percent match can be inkind rather than cash, he said. Reed said the county can apply next round which will be in 2024.

With safety on his mind, District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked Reed if he has seen an uptick in people signing up for the free Code Red weather warning system provided by the county.

“We do not get the numbers,” Reed said. “Now you can go on the county site and sign up yourself.” “I recently signed up,” said Smith. “Not only can you register for where you live, but where you work..” “It just warns when there is a storm in your area,” Terry said.