Courthouse safety top of mind

By Steve Swogetinsky

The Kemper Messenger



The Kemper County supervisors took a big step in protecting employees in the Court House from the Coronavirus during their Monday meeting.

Supervisors approved an motion to install plexiglass in the circuit clerk's office, the chancery clerk's office, the tax assessor/collector's office, the justice court office and the solid waste office. The plexiglass allows customers to come in and do business while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

In other matters, supervisors voted to:

• Approve the minutes from the previous meeting and the claims docket;

• Approve the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle for the sheriff's department. Supervisors also declared the weapon of a retiring officer surplus, allowing the officer to purchase the gun from the county;

• Approve the transfer of $7,000 from the Other Contractual Service account to the Triad Other Miscellaneous account;

• Approve the transfer of $118,000 to the R&B Bond Fund which is a General Ledger account;

• Approve moving $208,677 to the EMCC account which is a General Ledger account;

• Approve moving $353,000 to the Renovations Bond Fund;

• Approve the purchase of a used 12-ton air conditioning unit for the Emilia account. Supervisors also approved an order to furnish and install new dock seal for an 8'X10' commercial sectional door with wear pleats with 8" exposure and new laminated 14"X10" dock bumpers for two doors in the amount of $3,965.00;

• An order for a quote in the amount of $678 from Patrick Allen Companies to furnish and install (2) new springs for the commercial roll up door, and an order approving to furnish;

• Table a motion to put a new air conditioning unit in the Kemper Library;

• Approve the adjusted balance report for the Solid Waste account.

Supervisors had several items for county administrator Dr. Yolanda Jones-Cook. That included:

• Updating the Solid Waste plan;

• Approving an order granting Dr. Cook authority to apply for one or all three grants through MDEQ – (1) Development of recycling programs; (2) Development of collection programs for discarded appliances & furniture (white goods); (3) Provision of public information services to the local community on solid waste management; and/or (4) Household Hazardous Waste;

-Approving an order to renew participation agreement Inmate Medical Cost Containment Program;

Approving an order approving $500 (yearly grant) to Kemper County Homemakers' activities related to annual Homemakers' Fair.Supervisors met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter. They also discussed an economic development issue.