Cathy Slocum

The meeting agenda included several scheduled presentations and discussions covering various county matters. Key items for discussion and/or approval included the contract for E911 addressing, approval of quotes for road materials in District 4, a discussion regarding Group Term Life Insurance, and updates on the Prentiss Library and the Brinson house. The Board was also set to consider approving a solid waste assistance grant application, advertising for an excavator for District 3, approving floor maintenance at the Board of Supervisors office, and approving a financial request from the Town of Prentiss for its Youth Baseball Program. Furthermore, the agenda involved approving a request for membership and conference attendance for an official to the International Council of Shopping Center (ICSC), approving the spreading of Employee Action Forms for the Sheriff, Chancery, and District 5 offices, approving employee reimbursements, and the payment of multiple invoices from various vendors including insurance, planning/development services, engineering, and communication systems. The agenda also included approving payment for contract labor in District 4, approving an invoice payment without a purchase order, approving an overage on a purchase order, approving the spreading of a Standing Order from Circuit Court Judges, and approving claims.

Key discussions and actions for the meeting included presentations from the Cynthia White family, Billy Stafford regarding vegetation, and the County Engineer concerning applications for the Recreational Trails Program and Land & Water Conservation Fund Program. The Board addressed operational matters such as approval for several school bus turnaround rework projects in Districts 2 and 3, approval of the bid for prisoner meals, and discussion/approval of the Everything is Somewhere contract for E911 addressing. Further items included approving the spreading of the 2025 Assessment Rolls into the Minutes, approval for removing a parcel from landsale and refunding the buyer, approval of a quote for rims for District 4, and retaining salvage for a District 1 vehicle. Employee actions involved approving attendance at conferences/training and approving reimbursements. The Board also discussed the potential purchase and installation of a vehicle deck system for the Coroner and an automatic transfer switch for the generator, as well as updates on the Prentiss Library and Brinson House.

The agenda for the meeting included several miscellaneous items requiring approval, such as allowing Chancery Deputy Clerks to use specific payroll fobs for recent payrolls, approving the re-appointment of a board member to the Southeast MS Air Ambulance District Board, and appointing a representative for the Jefferson Davis County Red Cross for 2026. Other items involved approving rates for litter pickup, the purchase amount of gravel for each road district, specific school bus turnaround projects (District 2 and District 4), extending the warranty for server battery backup equipment, and approving employee attendance at a convention. The Board also addressed the adoption of a new 2026 mileage reimbursement policy, approving a membership level for the MS Heritage Trust, approving the spreading of Employee Action Forms and a judicial order terminating and appointing a part-time public defender into the Minutes, and approving a budget appropriation for the second quarter for the Sheriff and Tax Assessor departments. Discussions were scheduled regarding NG911 Compliance and requests from the Library for interior and exterior maintenance. Updates were also planned for the Brinson House and the Bassfield Library roof.

The meeting included discussions on project funding for N. Williamsburg Rd, PERS with a previous employee, and the sale of inventory from District 2. Miscellaneous items included approving a school bus turnaround, gravel rework for District 2 and District 3, quotes for building repair and a pressure washer/steam cleaner for District 5, and payment of invoices. Additional approvals were sought for purchases without a purchase order, an overage on a purchase order for limestone, an Employee Action Form, employees attending meetings, transfer of funds to Sumrall Rd Account, advertising county resources, and claims.

The meeting included discussions with Jack Andrews regarding public safety, an update from County Engineer Les Dungan, and an economic development update from Gary Bass. Cathy Slocum, CPA, presented an amendment to the budget. The board also discussed an executive session with Board Attorney Wes Daughdrill. Miscellaneous items included approving the release of a contractor on Jones Ford Rd, signing a letter from State Aid Road, approving a Certificate of Compliance for surface mining, and approving Modification #2 from MDEQ Solid Waste Agreement. Additional approvals were given for a parcel web hosting agreement, deleting inventory, declaring inventory junk for sale, and spreading into the Minutes District Attorney report of employment of additional legal assistants and criminal investigators. The board also approved employee action forms for the Sheriff Department, the purchase of a staff court reporter's recording system, the FY26 budget request from Economic Development, Fuelman and credit card reports, payment of invoices without a purchase order, sponsorship for Bassfield Christmas in the Park, a notary renewal, inmate meal logs and housing invoices, hauling scrap metal to Entrekin Recycling, and claims.