LAWRENCE COUNTY SUPERVISORS: Bids received for county paving projects

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By John Carney

At the July 1 meeting of Lawrence County Board of Supervisors, six bids were received from different paving companies in the area to provide service for the county over the next two years.

According to County Engineer Jeff Dungan, the bid request had different pay items including hot mix asphalt, a 1.5-inch-thick overlay, leveling, a 1-inch ultra-thin overlay, base repairs, and resealing.

The pricing is by the unit, and supervisors will be able to pick and choose what projects and the extent they can afford for their districts.

The low bid was from Southern Paving, in the amount of $1,622,500. Other bids ranged up to $1.96 million.

The bids contain line-item amounts that can be purchased as needed by the county and will be used to maintain county roads over the next two years. The bids were taken under advisement until they can be verified by Dungan and will be accepted at a future meeting.

Lawrence County Fire Coordinator Donnie Weeks reported there is no grant funding available to upgrade the motor on the county’s rescue boat. The project would replace the prop motor with one with a jet foot that will allow it to operate in shallower water. It has been pointed out the Pearl River gets low during the summer, but there is still recreational activity going on, and the county needs the ability to provide emergency services when needed. The low quote of $9,807 from Emmitt’s Marine was approved for the upgrade.

Weeks also reminded supervisors of the budget needs of his office as he works to fund a part-time career firefighter for the county and to keep trucks upgraded and certified as prices skyrocket.

New Hebron Mayor Cindy Bryan thanked board members for their help securing a new truck for her municipality. Weeks pointed out New Hebron firefighters cover a large area in the northern part of the county that is outside their municipal boundaries.

Weeks also pointed out that several trucks in District 2 that came from Deep South Equipment have corroding tanks that are being patched but will have to be replaced at some point. The trucks are good, he said, but new tanks will cost about $20,000 each.

An executive session was held to discuss economic development and legal matters, and it was reported no action was taken.

Library Director Ryda Worthy met with board members to check on an ongoing renovation project at the library in Monticello. She offered funding for a portion of the repairs. Dungan suggested advertising for the work that remains to be done and decide how to proceed with the project. Recently, roofing and air conditioning systems have been upgraded. Cosmetic work inside the building remains. The county is also planning to work on the tax office, health department, and courthouse.

County Coroner Danny McNeese met with board members to discuss the case of a body recovered from the Pearl River in early April. Investigators in Jackson have completed their investigation, and it is time to release the body to the family or a funeral home. Lawrence County officials say it is not up to them to release the body because once it was identified, it became the case of Capitol Police investigators, and they are responsible for all costs and decisions.

Approval was given for routine financial transfers, bills for payment in the amount of $395,189, quarterly budgets, asset management, and the tax assessment rolls for the year.

Financial Advisor Charlie Prince discussed the upcoming budget process with board members. He said he anticipates a small decrease in property valuation in the county this year and a slight increase in fees in lieu. In past years, the county has collected an extra $1,000 or two per mill based on increased valuation, and it doesn’t look like that will happen this year, he said.

“It looks like the same amount of money will be coming in, but there will be additional inflation,” Prince said.

He said the funding request from Lawrence County School District will be close to what it has been in previous years, but he is not sure how new state funding rules will change the process.

Supervisors voted to abandon street plats in Sontag that have never been used.

A project on Rabbit Road will proceed with help from Natural Resources Conservation Service. The drainage project will cost an estimated $206,000, with $158,400 being paid by the agency and $48,000 by the county.

Supervisors voted to advertise for a transport ventilator for emergency medical services and recessed until 9 a.m., July 15.