Burnside Park to get internet service
Burnside Park Auditorium is getting internet service along with better cellular service.
The Board of Supervisors, at its regular meeting on Monday, approved a lease agreement with C Spire to provide connectivity.
As part of the agreement, C Spire will build a self-supporting tower near the auditorium, providing 20 MB of connectivity via point-to-point service to their nearby cell tower on Highway 19 North.
Officials said the upgrade will improve internet access at the auditorium and enable future connectivity to a new restroom facility. The enhanced network will also enable Wi-Fi services and surveillance camera monitoring throughout the park.
Also, at Burnside, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) has awarded Neshoba County a grant for the construction of a new restroom facility.
This grant was part of the SCRC’s State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) program, which received over 300 applications. Of those, 105 advanced to final consideration, and 56 projects were funded across the seven-state region.
“We were fortunate to be one of 11 grants recommended by Governor Reeves for consideration during this inaugural grant funding cycle,” said County Administrator Jeff Mayo.
The total cost of the restroom facility project is estimated at $390,000, with 80%—or $312,000—being covered by the grant.
On Monday, supervisors formally accepted the notice to proceed from the SCRC after submitting all necessary documentation.
According to County Administrator Jeff Mayo, the next step will be soliciting proposals for engineering and architectural services to design and engineer the project.
The facility must meet numerous federal and SCRC grant requirements, including specific provisions due to its location in a Special Flood Hazard Area. This includes ensuring the building is elevated above the base flood level, protecting utilities from flood risk, and addressing other environmental requirements.
“We are excited to move this project forward to further enhance the use of Burnside Park,” Mayo said.
In other business, supervisors voted to:
• Accept the resignation of Deputy Paul Payne from the Sheriff’s Department, effective Oct. 28;
• Approve hiring Dustin Floyd as a part-time deputy with the Sheriff’s Department at $18 an hour, effective Oct. 15;
• Approve the Road Department removing a dangerous tree on Jim Whittle’s property on Road 743;
• Approve a writ of garnishment for Jazjuan Scott for $1,624;
• Approve the District 3 election commissioner’s request for additional poll workers for the House precinct for the Nov. 5 general election;
• Approve a travel request for Emergency Management Director Josh Burt to attend the G300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents conference from Nov. 13-15 at the State EOC in Pearl;
• Approve updating the Neshoba County flood damage prevention ordinance to the state model ordinance and approve advertising for a public hearing on the revision to be held in early December;
• Accept the resignation of Fairview VFPD commissioner Jamie Dees effective Oct. 9 and approve appointing Tammy Graham as Fairview VFPD commissioner effective Oct. 21 to fill an unexpired term ending on Mar. 4, 2027;
• Approve re-appointing Ricky McDonald as Linwood VFPD commissioner effective Jan. 1, 2025, for an additional five-year term;
• Approve the Soil & Water Conservation District’s request of $2,000 for the Beaver program;
• Approve paying MS Association of Supervisors annual county dues for 2024-2025 of $2,675;
• Approve Neshoba County Health Department’s request for a partial roof replacement due to leaks. Supervisors are currently gathering two quotes from different contractors for this project.