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The Simpson County Board of Supervisors handled a full agenda Friday, August 14, 2026, addressing personnel changes, Sheriff’s Department matters, property tax objections, road maintenance, county expenditures and other business.
Board President Wayne Womack called the meeting to order. County Attorney Danny Welch led the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mancil Carter Jr., Veterans Service Officer, announced the resignation of Holly Plunk. Once the Board receives Plunk’s official letter of resignation, a replacement will be considered and voted on by the supervisors.
Solid Waste and Road Department
The Board approved the hiring of Mickel Toston as a CDL employee with the Solid Waste Department at a rate of $15.95 per hour.
The Board also accepted the Road Department’s maintenance report for July and approved posting a 30 mph speed limit sign on Doc McGee Road.
Sheriff’s Department
Sheriff Paul Mullins presented several items for consideration, including acknowledgment of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office relating to a task force.
Several personnel matters were also presented and approved.
Frederick Murphy will move from part-time jail employment at $12.90 per hour to a full-time certified sheriff’s deputy position at $21.41 per hour.
Kelvin Jenkins was approved as a new part-time certified deputy at $14.05 per hour.
The Board approved Michael Jones attending the Harrison County Law Enforcement Training Academy in Gulfport from October 4 through December 11, 2026, at a cost of $4,000.
At the jail, Tiffany Blair, a full-time registered nurse, will move into the position of full-time Nurse Supervisor at $37.85 per hour. Joe Grantham, currently Nurse Supervisor, will move to a full-time Registered Nurse position at $31.15 per hour.
Diahanna Perkins was approved as a new full-time, non-certified dispatcher at $14.75 per hour, while Brittany Walker was approved as a new part-time, non-certified dispatcher at $12.90 per hour.
Mark Smith will move from a full-time, non-certified dispatch position to a part-time, non-certified jail position at $12.90 per hour.
The Board also granted permission to apply for a Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging grant.
Tax Assessment Objections Considered
Tax Assessor Jamie Brewer presented three property tax objections involving Tracy Higgs, Tuscan Towers and Twin Lakes.
Higgs appeared regarding property associated with a 501(c)(3) organization that is not currently operating. Following consideration, the Board approved a tax adjustment.
Scott Overby, representing Tuscan Towers, appeared before the Board concerning the property’s tax assessment and requested an adjustment. The Board denied the request.
A representative of Twin Lakes had also discussed its property assessment with Brewer, noting that a portion of the property is not currently in use. After the necessary documentation was received, the Board granted the requested adjustment.
County Administrator’s Report
County Administrator Charlie Welch presented a number of financial and administrative matters for Board approval.
The Board approved the August 14 claims docket totaling $552,322.21, along with $239.94 in electronic VISA payment claims for the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors also authorized advertising the required notice for a budget and tax levy hearing concerning proposed budget revenue.
Road materials received considerable attention during Welch’s report.
The Board ratified the purchase of Type 8 asphalt from Adcamp Inc. at $83.50 per ton. Although Adcamp was the second-lowest bidder when bids were accepted August 3, the material supplied by the lowest bidder, Superior Asphalt Inc., was determined to be unacceptable for spreading in the county’s application process. The purchase from Adcamp was necessary to continue ongoing county road maintenance projects.
The Board also considered not accepting future asphalt bids from Superior Asphalt due to the asphalt mixture being unsuitable for the Road Department’s spreading process.
Supervisors approved the FY 2027 air-conditioning and heating service contract with Upchurch Services for county buildings at a cost of $44,468.
The Board approved July financial reports and handled several county inventory matters involving radios and a Taser.
Supervisors also approved the county’s Americans with Disabilities Act grievance procedure and ADA policy statement to comply with federal regulations. The information will be posted in county buildings and made available to the public.
Road and Bridge Expenditures
The Board ratified the purchase of 300 tons of No. 8 limestone for delivery to the intersection of Highway 28 and James Boykin Barnett Road. Solid Rock MS submitted the lowest of two quotes at $19,650.
Supervisors also ratified the final payment for repairs to the Oak Grove Road Bridge. The final project cost was $77,400, up from the original estimated amount of $58,400 after five additional steel pile encasements were determined to need repair.
The Board also considered a claim from citizen Jana King concerning damage to the rear windshield of her 2015 GMC Acadia. King reported that a tire from a county garbage truck struck a rock on August 3, propelling it into her vehicle. Two repair estimates, for $395 and $467.87, were submitted for consideration.
Other County Business
The Board acknowledged that certified mail had been sent to the owner of property at 122 Bryan Floyd Road concerning excessive trash blowing onto neighboring properties and into the county road right-of-way.
An email was also sent to an AT&T representative concerning a fiber-optic line located within the county right-of-way at 121 Jerry Road. The county requested that the line be removed so the Road Department can perform necessary ditch maintenance.
Supervisors and administrative staff were approved to attend the 2026 Fall Educational Policy and Development Workshop in Tupelo October 13-15.
Upcoming Board dates include a public hearing on Tuesday, September 8, followed by meetings September 15, September 30 and October 5.
The county also reminded residents that there will be no garbage pickup on Monday, September 7, due to the Labor Day holiday. Garbage routes will instead be collected Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Possible Burn Ban
Emergency Management Director John Kilpatrick reported that a burn ban could possibly go into effect August 14. Kilpatrick said information would be released once he received confirmation from Mississippi emergency officials.
At the conclusion of regular business, the Board adjourned into executive session.
