Calhoun County supervisors met a candidate for the May 12 special election for congress, authorized some bridge projects to proceed and approved training for several county employees at Monday’s meeting in Pittsboro.
County Engineer Chodie Myers informed the board that the State Aid engineer declared two bridges on Skuna River in need of underwater inspection. The board authorized the inspections, which Myers said won’t cost the county.
Myers also presented easements to J.B. Rogers for him to get three landowners to sign for bridge work on CR 177.
Myers then noted culvert-replacement grants that are available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that could impact the county.
He said currently, the only project possible would be on CR 285 at the Yocona River. Myers said he expected locations along the Skuna and Yalobusha rivers would be authorized later this year.
Myers explained that the federal government selects the sites and pays for most of the materials and does all the work themselves. The county’s portion of the project is mostly if any paving is required and future inspections.
All of the projects are related to improving fish habitats, providing them better access to swimming upstream.
“I think it’s a good program if you have a large culvert that needs to be fixed,” Myers said.
Supervisor Gwin Longest, whose beat the Yocona River location is in, said that culvert does need improving.
No official action was taken.
Myers also noted the $175,000 approved by the state for the multi-purpose building in Pittsboro.
“As soon as we learn how they will administer it, we’ll get started on it,” Myers said. “We’ll have to see how far the money is going to go.”
CEDA Director Sheila Freely thanked the board for their support on getting the funds and Sen. Russell Jolly and Rep. Jim Beckett for their leadership.
Walter Zinn, of Pontotoc, a candidate for the May 12 special election for Congress, visited with the board briefly. Zinn, an attorney from Pontotoc, spoke on his platform entitled “Mississippi First.”
The board approved a request from Justice Court Clerk Tracy McGuirt to allow the county justice court office to participate in a new state program that allows for an additional $7.50 assessment on old fines collected that would go into a Justice Court Collections Fund administered by the State Department of Revenue. Those funds would then be distributed to all participating counties and could be used for salaries, equipment and other justice court needs.
Other items approved by the board:
•Barbara Ward to attend dispatcher training in Natchez.
•Transferred $5,000 into the jury fund.
•Veterans Service Officer Robert Gosa to attend training in Columbus.
•Lee Peden appointed to hospital board succeeding A.D. Spratlin who resigned.
•Approved resolution honoring Excel for their 20 years of service.