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Simpson County Board of Supervisors opened the September 13, 2019 meeting with prayer by Danny Welch.
First order of business was the Budget Hearing and Tax Levy. The budget for 2020 was presented and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Jane Hulon, President of Copiah Lincoln Community College, administrative team and some board of trustees met before the board to give an update on what was happening at Copiah Lincoln Community College.
- Colin’s enrollment of students is approximately 3,100 students
- Recognized as having the Highest Graduation Rate of all Community Colleges
- 2019 was the highest number of graduates ever
- Lowest Tuition of any other surrounding community college.
Dr. Hulon advised the following upgrades and construction projects
- New Nettles Center on Wesson Campus (Dorms)
- New renovated cafeteria on Wesson Campus
- $6,000,000 Technical Center is under construction at the Simpson Campus
Hulon advised the board about the concern of losing students to other community colleges. Co-Lin is working hard to attract graduates to the Co-Lin campuses. Hulon noted not only is Co-Lin a wise economical choice but a great educational choice.
Roads Manager Ben Warren presented two speed limit changes on the recommendation of County Engineer Buddy Woolverton. The board approved the following request.
- Main Street South Mendenhall change to 35 MPH
- Evergreen Cove Road change to 25 MPH
Warren was granted approval by the board for pay increases for employees completing the six month process: David warren, Haywood Magee, and Nicholas Cavell. The board approved to hire Ricky Lichte as a new employee to drive service truck.
John Kilpatrick Emergency Management Coordinator presented his monthly report to the board.
- 192 911 calls for the month
- Red Cross Volunteers were needed for the county
- Working with local fire departments to distribute smoke alarms to local residents
- The first 911 board meeting was held
Kilpatrick requested the board to approve the COOP Agreement that is required and gives in depth instructions of protocol in the event of misplacement of building or staff.
Sheriff Greg Reynolds received approval for Brandi Mitchell, Dispatcher to attend Hearing and Speech Awareness, October 3, 2019 at the Pearl Police Department at a cost of $150.00. Authorization was given to apply for the MS Leadership Council on Aging grant in the amount of $1600.00 for E911 signs at the residence of senior citizens. The board approved for Chris Wallace, Sheriff’s Department to attend the MS Fire Investigations fall seminar October 30, 31, and November November 1, 2019 in Pearl, MS at a cost of $175.00.
The board approved the claims docket presented by County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson.
The board also approved the following:
- Paying for new transport van for the jail to be paid from the Inmate Canteen Fund since it is for the benefit of the inmates.
- Pay a claim in the amount of $1,385.00 for damage caused by road crews to Ray Newsome home.
- Pay claim to Andrea Sterling for damage to windshield by the road crews in the amount of $ 185.00.
- Authorize the continued extension of the emergency order for bridge repair
- Travel for Rhuel Dickinson, County Administrator and Eric Bowen, Asst. Comptroller to attend the MS City/County Management Association 2019 Annual Conference in Ridgeland, MS.
- Travel for Rhuel Dickinson, County Administrator, to attend the Office of the State Auditor Continuing Education Training Seminar October 23-24, 2019 in Pearl, MS.
Future Board Meeting Reminders:
- Monday, September 30, 2019 – Fiscal Year End Meeting
- Monday, October 7, 2019
- Monday, October 14, 2019
- Monday, November 4, 2010