NATCHEZ — A plan that called for the Adams County Board of Supervisors to borrow up to $6 million to repave county roads was taken off the table Tuesday.

For the past several months the supervisors have been working with financial consultant Demery Grubbs to borrow the money, in the form of a bond, and Tuesday’s meeting was supposed to be a chance for the supervisors to receive an update from Grubbs.

But instead of an update, Grubbs recommended the board postpone borrowing the money.

The meeting was not open to the public.

Adams County Board Attorney Bobby Cox said the meeting was “relative to contract negotiations on the bond issue,” and the supervisors voted to meet with Grubbs in executive session.

After the closed meeting, which lasted one hour, Grubbs cited several reasons the board should not borrow the money.

Grubbs said since it’s possible the board could have to borrow money for a recreation complex it would be unwise for them to borrow until they knew the impact that would have on the county.

“We would not want to have to borrow more than we have to. I think it’s better for us to see what impact that will have on the county first,” Grubbs said.

The board should also wait to borrow money until board members have a better understanding of what the year’s upcoming budget will look like and wait to see if their estimates on new taxes coming in to the county from business, like the Adams County Correctional Facility, are correct, Grubbs said.

If the county has incorrectly estimated the amount of taxes coming in, it will impact the county’s ability to make bond payments.

While Board President Henry Watts said he has been in contact with Grubbs and was not surprised by Grubbs’ recommendation, some board members were taken off guard.

Supervisors Darryl Grennell said he had no idea Grubbs would recommend the board postpone borrowing the money.

“It was a complete surprise,” Grennell said. “It’s very disappointing.”

Watts also expressed disappointment over the recommendation.

“It was something that I thought would better the county, we all use the roads,” Watts said. “But (waiting is) the prudent thing to do.”

While roadwork was originally slated to begin this month, Grubbs recommended the board not borrow the money until the end of this year or possibly next year.

The board did not take an official vote on the issue, but instead followed Grubbs recommendation, Grennell said.