Some oppose widening of road

A proposal to widen North Red Banks Road is getting blow back from some residents, according to two supervisors.

The widening would alleviate traffic speedways on the road traveling in the north/south directions.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry originally expressed strong support for the widening to either three, four or five lanes. The road becomes a short cut for heavy trucks and vehicles that are not a part of the fabric of the local communities.

County consultant Gary Anderson brought up projects the board has expressed a desire to seek funds for in Jackson — Red Banks Road widening, overpasses on the railroad at Potts Camp and Byhalia, and raising of Blackwater Road. Anderson said he noticed railroad issues when his family had a funeral for his dad recently. The railroad was blocked at Shinault Road for an entire hour, he said.

Terry said widening of Red Banks Road will help with traffic congestion, at least temporarily.

“I’ve been getting calls,” said District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor. “ ‘Y’all not taking my land.’ “ “I would like them to call

me when they have issues,” said Terry.

“I’m not in favor of widening North Red Banks Road,” Taylor said.

District 2 supervisor Eddie Dixon weighed in.

“They don’t want Red Banks Road widened,” he said. “They are on me. Those people got nice homes over there.”

Terry called for a point of order.

“It has already been asked for and discussion does not change the (board) order,” Terry said.

Other business

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked the county to put a larger garbage can at the Osborne Bell Memorial on Highway 309, where the late sheriff was shot and killed.

He said there is a small can there but not large enough to keep it picked up. A family has been keeping the memorial clean of trash but can no longer do it, Zinn said.

Then he asked if Marshall County Crime Stoppers is operating.

County administrator Tim Powell said he will check on it.

Chancery clerk Chuck Thomas reported claims for the period came to $872,873, high because a $500,000 drawdown on the construction of the new jail came in.

Thomas has been put in charge of buildings and grounds, and Tim Powell took over the county comptroller job.

Thomas said power washing of the exterior of the tax building and the library is making those structures look good. And employees are doing some painting on the exterior of the tax office building.

Faulty steps at the Department of Human Services building, owned by the county, will be replaced. He said the county will be reimbursed for the cost to replace the steps.

Zinn reported positive comments on the cleaning of the community center.

“It’s like night and day,” he said.

Thomas said county employees are doing the work and the road and bridge department will tear out the old steps at DHS.

He asked for a 20-foot trailer for road and bridge employees to help with hauling long objects such as pipe.

“The courthouse is in better shape than I’ve ever seen it, inside and out, since I’ve been here,” said District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett.

Thomas said a lift is needed to get up high to work.

Larry Hall said the old lift needs some work to be put back into service. A problem in the electrical panel that operated the bucket needs to be fixed so the operator can raise and lower the bucket while standing in the bucket, he said. Presently, the lift has to be operated from the ground.

Supervisors approved a motion to repair the lift.

The green metal on the cupola and covering on the front porch of the library have been cleaned and need to be replaced, Thomas said. The green paint has begun to peel.

“It’s old-style metal and needs to be replaced,” Bennett said. “You can’t paint that. The gutters have rusted out.”

In his report, Powell asked for permission to destroy old records cluttering the county administrator’s office space.

Old bills, flagged car tag lists from unpaid garbage bills, solid waste receipts, old assets lists, purchase orders, cash journals and the like are legal to dispose after a certain date.

The board approved destruction of those items.

Supervisors announced that Charles Terry will serve as president of the board of supervisors and Bennett will serve as vice-president for year 2022. The positions are rotated every year. Since Terry is vice president, he moves up to the president’s slot. The board approved those positions.

New signs are being designed and built for the new justice court complex.

The new justice court will be named the Osborne Jail Justice Court Complex.

The new jail addition will be named in honor of Sheriff Kenny Dickerson.

A building is being sought to take the name of the late Hugh Hollowell, who died fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Marshall County while he served as Emergency Management Coordinator.

Supervisors approved pay request #4 for $58,900 for work to replace windows, doors and the septic system at the historic Rosenwald School on Isaac Chapel Road. The balance in the account to complete the restoration comes to $138,520.

Zinn asked where the county stands on searching for a way to supply broadband Internet service to residents and businesses.

Powell said the county is trying to reach out to Northeast Mississippi Electric Power and Northcentral Electric and other potential partners.

He said maps are needed to see where the boundaries for these two cooperatives are in Marshall County. Then attention can be set on servicing the northeast corner of the county.