Bri Cooks

The board discussed several items, including an update on the airport terminal construction project and the acceptance of final design documents. They approved a request for the emergency management department to utilize an unused building for radio equipment, contingent on a formal agreement. Additionally, the board passed a no-protest resolution regarding potential debt issuance. Invoices for the restroom pavilion project and related construction administration services were approved. Finally, the board discussed the opening date for swimming facilities, lifeguard scheduling, and uniform requirements for the upcoming season.

The board discussed several items, including concerns regarding erosion at a box culvert on South Palestine Road and plans to address the county debt. There was a discussion about the importance of professional and grammatically correct communication from the county to enhance public image and economic development efforts. The meeting also included the approval of the final payout for the Bellwood Levy project, which is now complete, and the review of task order number three for a cleanup project at the former International Paper site, funded by the MDA to prepare the land for future use.

The Board of Supervisors discussed various administrative and community matters, including extension service property maintenance, tax assessor requests for chargebacks and travel certification, and hiring personnel for E911 dispatch. Key agenda items involved approving resolutions for veterans turning one hundred, addressing Spark Light service contract price increases, managing storm damage recovery efforts, appointing an applicant for FEMA reimbursement, and ending the county-wide burn ban. Additionally, the Board authorized financial reports for EWP projects and received updates on pre-construction meetings for road improvements.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included the approval of prior meeting minutes and a financial document. A contractor provided an update regarding warranty terms for construction projects, specifically concerning Group Four and Magnolia Bluff Sites One and Two, and Lincoln Hike Road, leading to a commitment to consult with the attorney regarding contractual specifications. A presentation was given by Applied Technology Group concerning cybersecurity risks, resulting in a motion to allow them to conduct a free assessment in collaboration with the County Administrator and IT personnel. The representative from Nach's Children's Services requested that the county include them in appropriations, noting they provided services to 304 Adams County cases in the last year, and requested permission to set up a visual display for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Finally, a discussion occurred regarding voluntary employee benefits, comparing existing providers like AFLAC and Colonial with APDL, with a focus on utilizing group carriers for better benefits.

The meeting commenced with a call to order and a prayer. A motion to approve the minutes for the January 2026 meeting was subject to extensive discussion, particularly concerning a motion for Supervisor Hutchinson to travel to the NOBC Official Economic Development Conference in Maui, Hawaii, which prompted debate over travel budgets and propriety. Following this, changes to the minutes regarding a lease amount correction ($700,000 instead of $700 million) were addressed. The docket and monthly financial reports for the Sheriff's Office, Chancery Clerk, and Purchasing were approved. A presentation was given by Arcadia Ambulance Service detailing their qualifications, including their substantial fleet size, educational programs aimed at combating the state's paramedic shortage, and their large-scale response capabilities demonstrated during an ice storm in Parish. Later, a board order was approved for Ashurn Woods LLC, granting a tax deduction of $1,596.70 due to a computer error. A presentation was also given by a representative regarding significant opposition to a proposed 25% to 32% increase in property taxes, citing the community's existing financial struggles, poor infrastructure, and lack of visible improvements justifying the burden.