NATCHEZ &045; Local governments’ efforts to get even more homeland security grants for hazardous materials equipment and training. are well under way

In their Monday meeting, county supervisors voted to allow Civil Defense Director George Souderes to apply for grants from the Office of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

&uot;These will be received in the next fiscal year,&uot; Souderes told supervisors.

Neither the city nor county would be required to match the homeland security grants with local funds.

The city and county, as well as their law enforcement agencies, have combined their homeland security grants for the last four years &045; $414,700 total &045; to purchase hazard mitigation equipment and fund training.

On Wednesday, Souderes and fire officials received $98,015 worth of equipment, from a decontamination tent to pools to catch runoff water, to handle terrorism-related and other hazardous materials incidents.

The equipment was bought with the city and county’s latest homeland security grants.

The FEMA funds, used to help equip volunteer fire departments, would require a local match of 5 percent or 10 percent. That amount would need to be included in Souderes’ budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

Earlier in the meeting, Theresa Beach of the First Assembly of God Church food pantry asked supervisors to help the nonprofit apply for grants to help fund the ministry, which serves more than 500 people.

Board President Darryl Grennell, who called Beach &uot;a hero in this community,&uot; referred her to grant writers at the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District for assistance.

Beyond asking district personnel to help Beach and possibly writing letters for support for grant applications, Grennell said there’s little the board can do to help the feeding ministry.

That is because the organization is not on the list of groups the state has said the board can legally fund, Grennell said.

Beach said that so far she has only found closed doors when seeking funding assistance from local agencies.

The church has bought more than 26 acres behind Ryan’s Steakhouse on D’Evereux Drive to build a new church, including room for the King’s Cabinet.

&uot;But that (relocation) is at least one or two years away,&uot; and the ministry is rapidly growing now, Beach said. The ministry now occupies two 8-by-10-foot rooms at the church’s current location on Liberty Road.

&uot;I need a foot in the door,&uot; Beach said. &uot;These (food recipients) are my people, Š and they’re hungry.&uot;

Supervisor S.E. &uot;Spanky&uot; Felter said he’s seen first-hand the good work the organization does. &uot;They’re unsung heroes,&uot; Felter said, telling Beach &uot;I’m for all the help we can give you.&uot;

Also during Monday’s meeting:

4Supervisors issued a resolution commending Louverna &uot;L.V.&uot; Minor, who recently retired, for her years of service running the airport’s lunch counter.

Minor provided exceptional service with a personal touch, Grennell said, adding she invariably remembered his order &045; &uot;two cheeseburgers, no onion, no mustard.&uot;

4Supervisors voted to receive a letter from the Office of State Aid accepting the replacement of a dilapidated bridge on Palestine Road.

4The board approved a permit application for the Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association to relocate power lines once replacement of a bridge on Moss Grove Road starts.

4Supervisors voted to approve a flood control ordinance with minor changes. The Adams County Civil Defense Office will enforce the ordinance.

4The board approved a resolution commending Kappa Alpha Psi for selecting Natchez as the location of its annual provincial council, which was held Thursday through Sunday.

4The board voted to participate in a road sign inventory with the City of Natchez.

4The board appointed Grady Boykin to fill an unexpired term on the Airport Board of Commissioners.

4The board voted, on the recommendation of Coroner James Lee, to pay to cremate an indigent person whose family declined to pay for his burial.

4Supervisors voted to seek an appraisal on 30 acres just off Foster Mound Road.

Supervisors will next meet at 10 a.m. April 14 to open bids for site work and building construction for Venco, a metal fabrication company planning a location at the Natchez-Adams County Port.