By Julia Arenstam
Picayune Item

The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors voted to participate in the monthly “Focus On Pearl River County” program at WRJW radio.
Carey Meitzler, WRJW manager, invited the Board to participate in a 30-minute, commercial-free program where the Board, or other county representatives, can discuss ongoing events, projects and community concerns.
Meitzler said the station has used the program for several years with other community groups and elected officials, including Senator Angela Hill, the Mississippi State University Extension Service, various school districts and the city of Picayune.
The show is closed to callers and moderated by WRJW staff, allowing each party to disseminate information without interruption, Meitzler said.
District IV Supervisor Farron Moeller made a motion to move forward with the program, and volunteered to coordinate which supervisors will appear on the show monthly.
The program will air every fourth Friday of the month, starting Jan. 27, from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m.
“This Board is committed to economic development in this county, but we have to build enthusiasm; it can’t just be us,” Board Vice President Hudson Holliday said. “We need to get the word out that there’s some opportunities here.”
In a separate matter, the Board approved a request from Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shane Tucker to turn over a seized vehicle.
Board Attorney Joe Montgomery said the Board had no choice but to return the vehicle due to a court order.
Tucker said the vehicle was seized during a drug arrest, but it was later discovered that the suspect’s parents paid for and own the car, even though it is in their son’s name.
The Board also approved payment of $5,000 to maintain an annual contract with the department’s Livescan fingerprinting system.
County Engineer Les Dungan updated the Board about several bridge repairs currently underway across the county.
Dungan said repairs to four bridges on North Springhill Road will be made in installments, closing one section at a time starting with the southern segment to minimize inconveniences.
The first segment is expected to be closed early next week, Dungan said.
Right of way acquisitions for bridge repairs on Silver Run Road are also complete, he said. Dungan commended the landowners for their quick cooperation and response.
“If all of our right of way requests fell in place the way that one did, we would see things happen more quickly,” Dungan said. “For 10 parcels of land, typically that can take as long as a year, but it took a matter of weeks with this group of people.”
Dungan said emergency repairs are being made on Harry Sones Road after routine inspections discovered issues with the pilings under the bridge. A portion of the road will be closed over the weekend, he said.
Due to the urgency of those repairs, the Board approved using emergency funds for the project, because there was no time to go through the bidding process.
County Road Manager Charlie Schielder said he is preparing to advertise for asphalt employees in February and March. The work will take place during the summer, and Schielder said he would need about 12 men, preferably with asphalt experience.
The positions could become permanent depending on the quality of their work, he said.
Holliday also asked Schielder to review pothole patching techniques after receiving multiple complaints of potholes reoccurring after patches were made.
In a separate matter, the Board accepted a $22,555 bid from James A. Stockstill for the old superintendent’s building and property in Carriere. County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin said Tommy Pierson also submitted a bid for $5,400.
The one-third acre property was appraised by the Tax Assessor’s office at $45,900, and though the Board considered rejecting both bids, Holliday suggested the Board accept the highest bid. That motion passed.
In other news, the Board:
• Approved the purchase of a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan for $22,545 to be used as a county jail transport van.
• Accepted the resignation of the Board of Mental Health Commissioner and voted to appoint Bonnie Hodge, pending her acceptance.
• Discussed adding the county animal and litter control and code enforcement departments to the agenda on a regular basis.
• Discussed sending several members of the Board to Washington D.C. to meet with representatives on a number of issues, including the county hospital, the Pearl River and upcoming road projects.
• Declared Pearl River County smoke-free.
• Discussed the need for rural water companies to follow permit procedures when working near county roads.
The Board will meet on Monday at 8 a.m. to discuss future county projects and ideas. The next regular Board meeting will take place on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m.