Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
The Simpson County Board of Supervisors began its December 4, 2023, meeting by adopting a resolution to honor James Roy “Red” Grantham, Jr. upon his retirement from county service. Grantham has been serving in the public works department since 1992.
Representatives from MS Court Solutions and Southern Financial Systems presented proposals for the county’s collection agent contract to the board. Both companies proposed a 20% flat fee. The representative from Southern Financial Systems stated their services are superior because they absorb garnishment fees to collect money for the counties with which they work. It was noted that Justice Court Clerk Joyce Ann Hicks is satisfied with the current contractor. The board took the proposals under consideration.
County Engineer Buddy Wolverton presented a report on the status of state-aid, LSBP, and county projects as of November 30, 2023.
The report included the following:
- SAP-64(64): Star-Braxton Road (Grade, Drain, Base & Surface)
- The project is 95% complete, and a final inspection has been requested.
- LSBP-64(24): Shorter Road (Bridge Replacement)
- The project is 90% complete, and a final inspection has been requested.
- SAP-64(65): Dry Creek Road (Bridge Replacement)
- The county will re-advertise this project at the first of next year and expects a March bid opening.
- LSBP-64(25): Peacock Road (Bridge Replacement)
- The P.S.&E. Assembly was mailed to State Aid on October 31, 2023, and the county will begin advertising the project in late December.
- ERBR-64(03): Saratoga-Sharon Road (Bridge Replacement)
- The project is 98% complete, and the contractor has completed the bridge and paved approaches. The project is awaiting the growth of grass and the completion of punch-list items.
- SAP-64(17)M: Old River Road (Guardrails)
- The county is awaiting contracts from the contractor.
- ERBR-64(05): New Hope Road (Bridge Rehabilitation)
- Plans for the project are being completed, and the project will be advertised in late December.
The board approved a utility agreement with AT&T.
County Attorney Danny Welch appeared for Chancery Clerk Tim Gray who was not in attendance and requested the board approve a proof of publication, which it did.
The board approved the surrendered tags for November, as well as various changes to the real, personal, and homestead rolls for 2023 presented by Simpson County Tax Assessor Jamie Brewer.
Sheriff Paul Mullins appeared before the board with the following requests, which were all approved:
- Payment of Summit Food Services November 2023 invoices in the amount of $20,430.92
- Payment of National Sheriffs’ Association 2024 dues in the amount of $142.00
- Hiring of Fletcher Trask as a full-time certified sheriff’s deputy
- Attendance of Mechelle Cockrell and Angie Walker at Never Secure Always Ready class on December 5 in Flowood and Crystal Scarborough and Angie Walker at the Building Relationships class on December 6 in Flowood for a total cost of $300
- Moving of JackLynn Horn from full-time certified dispatch to part-time certified.
- Moving of Tiffany Rutland from full-time certified dispatch to part-time certified, effective December 14, 2023
- Attendance of Kassie Bankston at IAED 40-Hour Basice Class January 15-19, 2024 at the Jackson Police Department at no charge
- Hiring of Dwight Robinson for MDOT Trash Detail
- Hiring of Rebecca Hubbard and Mary Brown at the jail as part-time, non-certified
- Payment of USPCA invoice in the amount of $50.00
- Moving Doug Patrick and Jeff Mann from full-time non-certified to full-time certified.
The board approved John Kilpatrick’s request to apply for the EMPG grant.
The board approved the Claims Docket in the amount of $639,435.66
Charlie Welch reported that he and County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson had attended the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District meeting. The CMPDD is is developing a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan. According to the CMPDD website, the SS4A Safety Action Plan will include the following counties: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, and Yazoo. Welch reported that the CMPDD had identified two specific areas of concern in Simpson County: left turns and sloughing off of roadway edges.
Dickinson explained the dangers of traffic crossing Highway 49 to turn left, and Sheriff Mullins asked, “Have you ever counted how many crossovers from Piney Woods to Mt. Olive?”
“There’s quite a few,” said Dickinson. He then expressed his concern about the intersection of Highway 49 and Zion Hill Road at Simpson Academy and Ballyhoo, stating his opinion that there needs to be a frontage road along that stretch of the highway to allow safer crossing for school traffic, as well as for traffic from AirSouth. The addition of a consolidated high school in that area will further complicate the matter.
“Albert White is aware of that,” he said, “but to me, that is one of the worst problems that we have.”
Welch explained that the public has the opportunity to complete a survey to identify any area in the county.
“It’s not limited to just 49,” Welch said.
A five-minute survey is located here if members of the public would like to participate.
Sheriff Mullins said, “The worst place we have on 49 at this end is 540 at Puckett’s.”
He also mentioned JJ’s Shell and Bumpers, saying “A lot of people get rear-ended there.”
“There are several bad crossings,” commented Dickinson, explaining that MDOT is limited when it comes to purchasing right-of-way. “I would encourage you to respond to that survey,” he said.
“We’re thinking about Highway 49,” Dickinson continued, “but there are other dangerous areas in the county.”
Welch said the final inspection of the Trustee Hall will be completed on December 4, 2023, and trustees will move in this weekend. He said the county should get about $33,000 in retaining fees back.
The blinds for the courthouse will be in before the Bicentennial Celebration, Welch said, but there are four leaks in the courthouse roof. Welch assured the board that final payment will not be made until all concerns are addressed.
Welch reported that BEAM (Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi) has identified Simpson County as about 20% underserved. He said the next phase is to identify the underserved areas and looking at grant opportunities.
The board approved the request to extend the MDEQ Solid Waste Assistance Grant SW1278 ($17,535), which is expiring on December 31, 2023, for one year.
The board approved the renewal of the RapidCast alert system with High Ground Solutions for 2024 with $4,000.
The lowest quotation bid of Trustmark Bank at 5.18% for the 1-year lease purchase of a 2024 Kenworth T880 Dump Truck from Truckworx for $217,800 was approved. The other bids were from Cadence Bank at 5.78% and Peoples Bank at 6.27%.
The cost of the truck increased from last year, which Dickinson explained was an increase included in the original contract.
The board approved the constables’ requests for payment of the $4,500 fee to Constables Randall Coleman and Christopher Jones for cases where the state failed in its prosecution.
The board approved the renewal of membership in the National Association of Counties for 2024 in the amount of $550.
The board authorized Peoples Bank to lose all previous Sheriff’s accounts to be paid to the County General Fund.
Authorize a letter to Peoples Bank to open new accounts for Circuit Clerk Dewitt Fortenberry for use beginning January 1, 2024.
Applicable travel, meals, lodging, registration and mileage expenses for District 1 Supervisor Mitchell Chatman to attend the Mississippi Association of Supervisors – Minority Caucus Supervisors New Term Orientation on December 5, 2023, was approved by a 2-1 vote. District 5 Supervisor Randy Moore opposed. When questioned by Chatman for the reason he opposed, Moore said, “‘Cause I don’t like it.”
Even with opposition, the motion passed, and Chatman said, “I was going to take care of it myself if it didn’t.”
The board approved the claims and immediate issuance of checks for the following:
- ERBR64(05) New Hope Road Bridge Project for Testing Services in the amount of $2,922.60
- ERBR65(03) Saratoag Sharon Road for Testing Services in the amount of $2,880.75
- Magee General Hospital in the amount of $177.00 for workers compensation expenses.
On behalf of Justice Court Clerk Joyce Hicks, Dickinson requested the board approve the hiring of Mary Walker as a new deputy clerk to replace an employee who quit. The board approved.
The board entered executive session and will meet again on December 15, 2023.
