$15.4 million county budget adopted

Supervisors passed a $15.4 million 2021 budget and handled several personnel matters during their Sept. 8 meeting.

The board held a public hearing on the budget. Two people addressed the board. Afterward, they voted to approve the budget and the tax levy. There was no increase in millage for county government expenses.

There was a .50 millage decrease by Neshoba schools and 1.18 mill decrease for Union schools.

Circuit Clerk Patti Duncan Lee came before the board requesting to hire two temporary deputy registrars to assist with absentee voting prior to the Nov. 3 general election.

Duncan also asked supervisors to consider paying poll workers an additional $50 as hazard pay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both requests were approved.

Sheriff Eric Clark advised supervisors that jail administrator Jonathan Dearing has resigned, effective Sept. 25. The Sheriff also employed Matthew Winstead as a deputy effective Sept. 1. He will be attending certification training later this month.

Clark announced the termination of the Fiscal Year MOHS 154 grant. The Sheriff asked that a $300 yearly service fee be paid for ROCIC, which is a regional information sharing system for law enforcement.

 In other matters, the board voted to:

• Accept Cortez Peebles resignation from the Sheriff’s Department;

• Accept Jason Savell’s resignation from the jail;

• Approve the hiring of Brandon Rush at the jail, effective Sept. 7, and to a change in pay status for Staci Akins;

• Accept the August daily meal log and detailed billing report for the jail;

• Approve the employment of Bryan Rigsby for the Road Department;

• Approve reimbursement to Brian Hardy for DOT;

• Accept the resignation of Timothy Roberts from the Sanitation Department;

• Accept the appointment of Amber Wheeler as law clerk in the circuit court;

• Approve changes in the real property rolls for 2017, 2018 and 2019;

• Approve a school bus turnaround on 10861 Road 387 for the Neshoba County schools;

• Approve a 16th Section Residential Lease for the Union School District and a request for six loads of gravel;

• Approve the continuation of the Emergency Declaration for COVID-19;

• Approve the payment of $34,639 to Byrum Construction for work on the lift at the Neshoba County Coliseum;

• Approve the county employees payroll, ending Aug. 24 and totaling $208,239;

• Approve the elected officials payroll, ending Sept. 1 and totaling $34,239;

• Approve the payment of $8,850 to Peterbilt- Dobbs for the repair of a garbage truck;

• Accepted the purchase clerk’s report;

• Approve a request to host a Save Our Children Rally for Sept. 19 on the courthouse grounds;

• Approve the employment of county engineer to survey for the expansion of the landfill;

• Amended an interlocal agreement with the city of Philadelphia for joint tax collections;

• Agreed to fund additional extension service agent with 4-H responsibilities; and,

• Canceled special supervisors meeting on Sept. 14. The next board meeting with be Sept. 21.