WALTHALL -Webster County officials have expressed concern over the local impact of expected cuts to some state grant programs.
The Board of Supervisors and chancery clerk were notified of the loss of grant revenue in a legislative update from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors. The document, dated Dec. 14, was distributed statewide by Jack Gregory, MAS executive director, and Joel Yelverton, assistant executive director. The county board provided a copy to the Progress-Times at its Jan. 18 meeting.
The MAS officials stated that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality administers grant programs that provide "vital" revenue to counties for numerous environmental programs. These solid waste grants and assistance programs are expected to lose some $5.1 million in award money for the remainder of the state fiscal year (through June 30), according to the update.
The officials go on to report that state Department of Finance and Administration, under the direction of the Legislature, was required to acquire $82 million in state government special funds this year to help balance the state budget.
"Counties already have suffered cuts in the State Aid Program to offset the state budget shortfall," the MAS officials point out. "These are further cuts to help the state balance its budget."
MDEQ's share of that amount was placed at $10 million, with more than $5 million coming from the various solid waste assistance programs. MDEQ grant and assistance funds that will likely be affected, according to the information, are the local government solid waste assistance grants, local government waste tire grants, waste tire abatement funds, waste tire incentive recycling grants and the non-hazardous corrective action funds.
MDEQ has stated that it is committed to working toward lessening the impact of these fund reductions on local government services and programs, the document concludes.
County supervisors, in other matters on Jan. 18, voted to:
hire Buchanan Meek Jr., who is board attorney, to provide legal services to the county associated with a $250,000 economic development loan for Front Line Apparel Group. The loan will be funded with money made available to Webster County by the Mississippi Community Development Black Grant Program. Only one proposal was received.
In a related matter, Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District reported that Front Line officials want to apply to the Appalachian Regional Commission to fund training for employees through Holmes Community College. The new company is scheduled to manufacture military uniforms in the former Red Kap building.
appoint Kevin Null of Ackerman as special prosecutor to handle the case of state vs. Tommy Edwards, which is an appeal to Circuit Court from Justice Court. Interim county Prosecutor Hugh Gibson requested the appointment because of a conflict of interest.
hire Charlie Pittman as a part-time radio dispatcher to work strictly on an as-needed basis.
accept AmSouth Bank's proposal to serve as the county depository for calendar years 2005-06. AmSouth is the current county depository and had the higher public funds interest checking account rate (2.4 percent) of the two banks submitting proposals.
remove Edgeworth-Lodi Road from the State Aid System
designate the property of James and Elizabeth Clark as a school bus turnaround at the request of the School Board.
The board's next regular meeting is at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 7.
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