Eight county roads to see work

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Editor’s note: The original version of this story misidentified one of the roads slated for work. The list is correct below.

NATCHEZ — The people of Adams County said they couldn’t wait for a road bond to pave several county roads, and the county leaders listened.

District 5 Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter offered a motion to amend District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus’s motion to pave Deer Lake Road, adding Cardinal Drive, Reba Christian Road, White Oak Drive, Dunbarton Road and Knotts Road to the final asphalting tally, as well as striping Kingston Road and Carmel Church Road. His motion passed unanimously.

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Where the board of supervisors will get this money is an issue for another day, however.

The temperature in the room seemingly rose when Lazarus made the original motion to pave Deer Lake Road, with several residents of the road in attendance.

District 2 Supervisor Henry Watts said in his seven years on the board of supervisors he had never heard so many misstatements as he had regarding Deer Lake Road issue.

“It is disheartening what I’ve been hearing,” he said. “We have been trying to get our finances back in shape, not only to pave Deer Lake Road, but also to pave these other roads that need to be done.”

District 3 Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell said he’d like to talk to the county’s financial advisor Demery Grubbs, who is scheduled to report to the board later this month, before moving forward on any asphalting projects.

After Campbell excused himself to take his wife to the hospital, Felter continued the thought when he said he was for paving Deer Lake Road when funding was available. Felter said he was related to five people on that road and he knew about the need.

Lazarus said it was costing the county money and time to send people out there to grade the road, it was going to eventually get paved and the money was in the budget to purchase the asphalt. He said the board should pave it now.

Watts and Felter said they, along with Campbell, had received complaints from homeowners on roads in their district since the board last discussed Deer Lake Road.

Grennell said the board did not specify where exactly the money would come from. The board still has to discuss how to pay for the pavement before road work can start.

Grennell said he would meet with Chancery Clerk Tommy O’Beirne to discuss finances, and Felter said he talked with Road Manager Clarence “Curly” Jones about getting an estimate on the project.

In other news:

Mammy’s Cupboard is the Board’s Business of the Month.

The Southern Hospitality Academy will have another session during May to be scheduled on a day between May 10 and 14.

The road department will pursue a DEQ grant to underwrite garbage cleanup on Muddy Fork Road.

To serve on the three vacant seats open on the Natchez Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, Lazarus nominated Linda Futrell, John Serafin, Cappy Stahlman and Debbie McDonough; Felter nominated Tommy Smith; Campbell nominated Charles Meritt; and Grennell nominated Nelson Baughman, James Walker and Clarence Love.

County Engineer Jim Marlow received permission to get an easement description for the purpose of replacing a wooden bridge on Cutoff Road.

County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens Jr. will travel to Flowood on June 10 and 11.

He will also be attending a firefighters meeting on June 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Rankin County.

The board entered into an agreement for AEDD Plus to build the FEMA 361 Shelter should the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees come to an agreement with the supervisors on a location for the shelter.

The Juvenile Justice Center requires an employee to be on the job for six months before the employee is offered a health care package. To comply with the federal government’s health care law, the juvenile center will have to offer a health care package after 90 days on the job.

The board agreed to purchase a $26,987 vehicle for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Interim County Administrator Charlie Brown will attend a seminar for county administrators and comptrollers at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson April 28 and 29.

The board approved two interfund loans from general fund: $535.74 to occupant protection seat belt and $5,835 to the county fire fund.

The bridge and culvert account is loaning $10,450 to youth court support fund.

Co-Lin College improvements is loaning Co-Lin maintenance $2,280.

Watts asked that the Natchez Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees submit a profit and loss account in writing to the board of supervisors.

Watts will travel to Jackson for a public hearing of the Mississippi Development Authority.

The board approved travel for a board member to attend a meeting at Percy Quin State Park, near McComb, for the Southwest Mississippi Partnership annual meeting.

The board accepted a motion to inform Natchez Regional Medical Center that the board of supervisors is interested in a trailer and also request that the hospital not sell it. The board hopes to use the trailer for the road department’s new office.

The board approved travel for a board member to attend a conference in Biloxi April 20 through 23.

Grennell will check with the local fitness centers to develop a corporate package for county employees to join.