Board splits vote to send

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors split a vote to send constable Thomas Crouch for re-certification at the August 4 meeting.

Crouch asked the board to approve $750 expenditure so he can take re-certification training at North East Community College as a full-time law enforcement officer.

In questioning by the board, Crouch answered his duties are to serve as a bailiff, to serve warrants and to make arrests.

“It’s law enforcement,” he said. “I’m a prior certified officer.” District 5 supervisor Ronnie O’Neil Bennett said he wants Crouch to go for the training.

County administrator Tim Powell said he was not sure the county could send him for that purpose.

Bennett then made a motion to pay for Crouch’s re-certification pending it being legal to pay for it.

A roll-call vote resolved the issue with supervisors Zinn, Bennett and Glover voting to approve the expenditure and Rodgers and Walker voting nay.

Next up was county engineer Larry Britt with several requests for action.

The board approved a request to install a valve in a water storage tank so Marshall County Water Association can supply a 12-inch line backup supply to a ground storage tank at the Project Poppy (battery plant) site.

The installation requires change order #1 for $9,937.

Construction of an above ground $1 million tank by Southeastern Tank company has not begun. Sections of the above ground tank will be manufactured then assembled on site, he said.

Funds to pay for the project comes from the Mississippi Legislature.

The Eddie and Maxine Dixon Emergency Response Center is nearing completion with a change order approval of $7,854.

Britt said the $4,200,574 budget to build the center is in slight over run at $4,203,574.

The Blackwater Bridge raise project is on track for Ste Bil Grading of Waterford committed to begin work in September, Britt said.

The project, which will stop flooding on Blackwater Road, is funded by the Mississippi Legislature.

Britt said one bridge will be raised about four feet and another about 3.5 feet by removing the bridge surfaces and extending the length of the existing pilings, then putting the bridge back on the raised pilings.

Justin Hall, executive director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, said lighting for a section of Knox Road to Highway 72 has been approved. The Project Poppy project funded by the Mississippi Legislature will pay for installing the lights, but the county will maintain and pay the monthly utility bill, he said.

The board approved signing a memorandum of understanding to support the project pending review by board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith.

The county has received two airport grants, Hall said.

Cracks in the runway and taxiway will be sealed and repaired and a safety lighting grant will pay for upgrades in the runway and taxiway lighting and in other areas.