Supervisors increase Park Commission budget by $10,000
County supervisors voted to add $10,000 to the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Park Commission budget to help it get through the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year which ends in October.
Parks Director Cody Bryan reported the commission lost a fourth of its income this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic. The summer league baseball, softball and T-ball programs couldn’t play and entry fees and sponsorships had to be returned,
“We took a big loss, having to give registration fees back, about $104,000,” Bryan said. “We went to the county and we will be going to the city. If they give us a loan, we can make it until October. We are trying to avoid layoffs.”
Bryan said he had hoped to make some of the money back by holding baseball, softball and T-ball fall leagues. Now that is very much in question.
“We were going to try to play baseball and softball on weekdays and soccer on Saturday,” Bryan said. “But right it’s not looking good. The COVID-19 infection numbers are continuing to climb.”
Northside Park had re-opened last month where travel teams could practice. The playgrounds and disc golf course had re-opened. However, Mayor James Young had everything closed again last week except for the walking trails.
The Parks Commission representatives were to go before the Board of Aldermen Tuesday night.
In other matters, supervisors voted to:
• Approved the employment of Chance McDaniel for the Road Department. Supervisors approved two reimbursements of $75 and $21.43. They also approved the Central Water Association’s request for a road crossing;
• Approve a 16th Section residential lease agreement with Emmette and Buffy Sullivan at 10990 County Road 270;
• Accept the resignation of telecommunicator Shea Elliott in the Emergency Management Department;
• Approve the removal of a stove and a microwave from the county inventory at the Neshoba County Coliseum. Supervisors also approved the replacement of a primary roll-up door at the coliseum.
• Approve the payment of $20,916 to Byrum Construction for work to install on the new elevator lift at the coliseum;
• Approve the payment of $5,000 to SMLPC for work on the Industrial Road project; and,
• Accept the resignation of Shelley Ellard from Library Board of Trustees.
• Supervisors received a letter from Marshall Ford informing them the company would be unable to honor a quote for a F-350 truck. The truck is for emergency management and will be rebid.