Supervisors handle routine business in meeting
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By ANNETTE HARVISON
Dispatch Staff
The Perry County Board of Supervisors held its regular March meeting this past Monday, with several items on the agenda.
The very first order of business was a vote to declare Perry County a Second Amendment Sanctuary. A resolution passed by the supervisors commits county officials to not enforce any unconstitutional laws related to guns or gun ownership.
The board approved overweight permits for Weyerhaeuser to haul west on Pat Hinton Road then south on Old Augusta Road.
Board members gave their approval for Emergency Management Director Colby Prine to attend the 2020 Miss. Partners in Preparedness Summit May 4-7 in Biloxi.
The board approved use of the Perry County multipurpose building for Brittany Odum to hold a County Cattlemen’s Meeting on Mar. 26.
Several bus turnarounds for the Perry County Board of Education were approved and all will expire July 31, 2020.
Approval to remove items from inventory of the chancery clerk’s office was given by board members.
Board members approved the installation of a culvert on JP Hinton Road at Gaines Edwards’ property to protect the county road. Approval for installation of a culvert on Hintonville Road at Ray Holliman’s property to protect the county road was also granted.
County Comptroller Ashley Tingle asked the board to approve an amendment to correct privilege tax receipts, noting that the error was a learning mistake. She informed the board of the need for new software and wireless services for the county Veterans Affairs Office.
Legal Council Paul Walley informed the board there were 49 Homestead Exemption rejections. Walley asked board members to approve the donation of lumber to repair a concrete walkway at a local senior living facility.
In other items on the agenda, the board held the mandatory hearing before abandoning a county road. Herring Road will no longer be a county maintained road. The road will remain open for passage, however the county will no longer be responsible for maintenance of the road. Signage will be placed at both ends of the road to inform the public.
Perry County Election Commission members talked to the board about items on their agenda, one of which is how to replace the soon-to-be obsolete voting machines currently in use in the county. The commission began with discussions about how to use the available HAVA money, which is around $16,000. The money can be used for precinct upgrades and other election related items. The commission will receive more funds in 2020.
Commission members told board members several voting machine bags had to be repaired, however the machines will have to be replaced before the next general election. The county has 15 voting precincts with an average of two machines each. There are a few voting machine options available, including paper ballots. People in the board room agreed using paper ballots should be a prominent option, as the commission feels many seniors voters were confused with the introduction of electronic voting machines. Members of the board and commission agreed that paper ballots would give certainty in any sort of arising issues. HAVA funds received by the commission can be used for replacing machines.
Board members and members of the commission discussed known repairs needed at a few voting precincts, and supervisors will plan onsite inspections of the precincts with commission members to address any other items that may be needed. Board and commission members will also check for ADA compliance at all precincts. A list of needed repairs or upgrades will be addressed to ensure all precincts are compliant with federal laws. Election Commission members asked the board to supply hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for Tuesday’s voting primaries, as many residents are concerned about the spread of germs.
