County nearing end of February ice storm cleanup

Neshoba County supervisors are applying for a FEMA grant to be used to pay for the cleanup from the February ice storm.

County crews are still picking up debris from the storm, County Administrator Jeff Mayo said during last week’s meeting. Mayo said the work would continue for at least the next two weeks.

“We are still picking up the debris,” Mayo said. “We are looking for reimbursement from FEMA. I don’t have an exact number but we are at over a half-million dollars in cost from the pickup. We were originally running two chipper crews but we are down to one chipper crew and a pickup crew.”

Crews have recently been working between Highway 15 and Road 505. They are going back to pick up the larger debris the chipper crew could not get, Mayo said.

In other matters during the board’s July 19 meeting, supervisors voted to:

• Approve for Sheriff Eric Clark to sign a memorandum of understanding with Philadelphia Fire Department that would provide the department with the use of a rescue boat if needed;

• Approve hiring Joshua Dura as a full-time correctional officer with the Neshoba County Detention Center at the salary of $10.50 an hour;

• Accept an easement with Orville Jackson Breazeale to allow the county Road Department access to a dirt pit. Supervisors also approved for two employees to switch jobs;

• Approve payment of two invoices from Engineering Services $15,955 and $12,093;

• Approve a resolution designating project applications for the Emergency Relief Bridge Replacement Grant Program;

• Approve a request from Chancery Court Chancellor Kiley Kirk for reimbursement of $345 for office expenses for March and April 2021; and, $277 for May;

• Approve a request from the Philadelphia Public School District for two loads of sand to be delivered to the football field;

• Approve the acquisition of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) for the County Line, Fairview, Hope, House, Linwood and Tucker volunteer fire departments through a state contract. The total cost was $157,478.00. Supervisors also approved the purchase of SCBAs and accessories for Arlington Volunteer Fire Department via state contract and totaling $23,606. Supervisors reviewed a grant application for an upgrade for the county’s 911 system;

• Approve the county employee payroll ending July 12, and totaling $227,808;

• Approve the elected officials' payroll ending July 15, and totaling $43,645;

• Approve a request to the state Department of Finance and Administration for the issuance of State General Obligation Bonds for the County Road 210 Bridge Project.