Despite having to navigate a few recent meeting schedule revisions, between the federal holiday and the subsequent postponement caused by the local icy weather, the Marion County Board of Supervisors still managed to handle the necessary business on their February agenda.
Charlie D. James was appointed by the board to serve on the Lampton Water and Sewer Board, after accepting the resignation of Leslie L. Peters, who decided to retire following a long tenure of service with that utility.
The board voted its approval to amend the county ordinance that will allow beer sales in Marion County on Sundays after 12pm. This amendment, which is effective immediately, now aligns the county ordinance with the similar ordinances enforced in the City of Columbia and Walthall County.
As part of a perpetual annual arrangement with the Mississippi Administrative Office of the Court, which provides a $9,000 grant used to assist parent representatives in child protection cases, the board authorized a Memorandum of Understanding that facilitates the receipt of those grant funds.
On an unrelated grant award, the board voted to accept $225,940 from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for the restoration/renovation of the windows at the Marion County Courthouse. As a condition of the grant agreement, Marion County will contribute 20% toward the project costs.
At this early point of securing the funding, the project duration or completion estimates have not yet been finalized. However, Steve Cox, the architect for the windows project, is in the process of preparing plans and specification documents so that bid solicitations can begin within the next few weeks.
Board Attorney Drew Foxworth also announced that plans are underway, following the board's approval vote, to advertise and receive bids for roof repairs to the Marion County Civil Defense and Justice Court buildings. He said Jeff Dungan, county engineer, will handle preparing the necessary documents required to advertise for those roof repair bids. That process is also expected to take a few weeks.
The board will hold its next regular monthly series of meetings on Monday through Thursday, March 1-4; and Monday, March 15.
