NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday to execute the necessary agreements to save Stirling Road from collapsing into a deep gully.

A hill on the side of Stirling Road washed out during March and early April rains, and the washout has since moved under the road structure.

The affected area is near a 60-foot drop on one side.

The county board had previously applied to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for emergency watershed project funds to address the issue.

County Engineer Jim Marlow told the board Tuesday the funding for the project had been approved, but they had to move quickly to get everything in order to ensure the money comes through.

Only two counties in Mississippi are receiving the NRCS money, Marlow said, and the money should be at the local NRCS office within 3-5 days.

“NRCS will start selecting a contractor immediately, and work could start 10 days after that,” he said. “If you hit a snag or any delay once they say go ahead, there is a chance we will lose this money.”

The board voted to execute all agreements and authorized board attorney Scott Slover to make the necessary legal filings locally to get the work moving in a timely fashion.

The board also met in executive session to discuss the job performance of outgoing Emergency 911 Director Stan Owens.

Owens will retire June 30.

The board also discussed the resumes of those who have applied for Owens’ job, and supervisors’ president Darryl Grennell said the board has schedule interviews with the applicants for 8 a.m. Thursday.