Sunflower County supervisors spent much of their Monday meeting wrestling with storm‑debris costs, jail operations and the loss of tens of thousands of dollars in housing funds, even as board members stressed the need for tighter planning and more transparency.
The Sunflower County Board of Supervisors convened at 8 a.m. at the Sunflower County Courthouse, 200 Main St. in Indianola. All five supervisors were present: District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald, District 2 Supervisor Riley Rice, District 3 Supervisor Roger Anthony, District 4 Supervisor Anthony Clark and District 5 Supervisor and Board President Gloria Dickerson. Also attending were Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh, County Administrator Mary Hart and Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams. Sheriff James Haywood opened the session, and Rice delivered the opening prayer before the board unanimously adopted the agenda.
Supervisors quickly approved minutes from their previous meeting, then turned to the county claims docket. As line items were reviewed, Anthony raised concerns about the trajectory of county spending. “We’re spending more than we’re taking in,” he said, arguing that supervisors needed to watch the docket more closely. Board members acknowledged pressure from rising costs in areas such as jail operations, roads and storm cleanup, but noted that many of those obligations are mandatory. The docket was ultimately approved on a unanimous vote.
Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh asked supervisors to designate Good Friday, April 3, 2026, as a county holiday in place of Confederate Memorial Day. “This change keeps our holiday calendar in step with other counties and still gives staff an important spring holiday,” she said. The board approved the change, meaning county offices will be closed that Friday.
McIntosh also received approval for travel to a spring educational workshop for chancery clerks in Ridgeland, set for April 21‑23, and for payment of membership dues to the Mississippi Association of Governmental Purchasing/Property Agents for two staff members. “These trainings and memberships help us keep up with changing laws and improve service to the public,” she told supervisors.
County administrator
report and drainage
project
County Administrator Mary Hart requested permission for herself and other county administrators and comptrollers to attend a separate educational conference in Ridgeland on the same April dates. “Our finance staff need this workshop to stay current on budget rules and reporting requirements,” Hart said, calling it part of the county’s effort to be transparent with finances. The board approved the trip.
Hart then walked the board through construction and engineering invoices related to the Ruleville Drainage Project, Phase III, covering work by Timbo’s Construction and McPherson Engineering. “The drainage work in Ruleville is critical for flood control, and these invoices represent work already completed under contract,” she said. Supervisors voted to pay the bills.
Tax assessor and sheriff reports
Tax Assessor/Collector Cynthia Chandler requested permission for herself and deputy Renee Upton‑Rice to attend an assessment recertification training in New Orleans on April 6‑7. “This certification keeps our property assessments accurate and fair for taxpayers,” Chandler said. The board granted the travel request.
Sheriff James Haywood followed with his monthly settlement report, which showed that the jail served 4,483 meals during the reporting period. He also reported that his office collected $67,090 in jail fees from other jurisdictions that house inmates in Sunflower County’s facility, stressing that those receipts represent revenue brought into the county and are separate from costs such as food and utilities. Haywood said expenses for food, utilities and health care at the jail “continue to rise” and asked supervisors to begin quarterly visits to the jail in April, telling them, “I welcome you all to come out, see the conditions firsthand and ask questions about our operations.”
Compliance Officer Frank Gardner also used the sheriff’s report to ask the board to remove two problem trees at the county jail that are leaning against the serpentine fence. He requested permission to seek quotes from contractors to handle the work, warning that the trees pose a risk to the fence and to jail security if they fall. Supervisors agreed and authorized staff to solicit bids for the removal.
Engineering, road work and debris cleanup
County Engineer Ron Cassada asked supervisors to approve a permit application required when utilities occupy or adjust facilities in the county right of way. “This permit helps us make sure utilities are installed safely and that the county’s right‑of‑way is protected,” Cassada said. The request was approved without opposition.
Road Manager and Solid Waste Manager Ernest Ross presented the countywide road manager’s report, which the board received and approved. Ross described ongoing work on gravel and paved roads, saying his crews were “doing everything we can with the resources we have” to keep roads passable and address citizen complaints.
Later in the agenda, Road and Vehicle Preventive Maintenance Manager Tim Howell gave a detailed update on storm debris cleanup and related contracts. He reminded supervisors that the county had signed memorandums of understanding with each municipality and was looking at the town of Drew as a central site to store and burn debris at 1,000 yards per acre, pending final approval. “We’re trying to create one main debris site so we can manage the cleanup efficiently and meet state and federal guidelines,” Howell said.
Howell also asked the board to allow the 16th Section land superintendent to use part of that property as a temporary debris staging area and requested estimates on repairing a damaged road grader. “If we can get this grader back in service, it will speed up our work on gravel roads countywide,” he noted. Supervisors agreed to seek estimates and bring the matter back.
With cleanup still ongoing, Howell said the county needs temporary emergency debris management sites in each district and may have to rent wind curtains or trench burners to handle the volume. During the discussion, Rice summed up the concern over funding when he said, “I hope FEMA pays for all this stuff,” underscoring the potential burden on local taxpayers. The board also debated leasing an additional debris site on the north end of the county before adopting an order spelling out how contractors are to handle debris at two designated sites.
Online permits and code enforcement
Code Enforcer and Solid Waste Manager Percel Moore requested permission to open an account that would allow the county to accept permit payments through an online portal. “People are used to paying bills online, and this will make it easier for residents to do business with the county,” Moore said. Supervisors approved the move.
Moore also received approval to pay an invoice for $170 in dues to the International Code Council. “Membership keeps us up to date on the latest building and safety codes,” he told the board.
Specialty courts and
judicial travel
Chancery and Youth Court Judge Debra Giles appeared to request approval for travel and expenses for the county’s specialty court team to attend the All Rise Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, from July 19‑24. The group includes Giles and staff members Kierre Rimmer, Sharon Patrick, Nina Atkins, Darlene Duncan, Gregory Jackson and Dr. Adrian Brown. “The All Rise Conference is the premier training for treatment and specialty courts, and it helps us keep these programs effective,” Giles said. The board unanimously approved the trip.
Giles also asked supervisors to approve an application for a post office box dedicated to specialty courts. “We need dedicated mail service to protect confidentiality and keep these cases organized,” she said. The request was granted.
Fire truck for Drew
Emergency Management Agency Director Mitch Ramage asked supervisors to authorize the purchase of a fire truck for the town of Drew from Southern States. “Drew’s fire department needs this truck to meet response standards and protect citizens,” Ramage said. Donald voiced his support, saying, “We’ve got to make sure every town has the equipment it needs when people call 911.” The board voted to move forward with the purchase.
Attorney’s items and
surplus property
Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams presented a proposal to sell surplus residential property owned by the North Sunflower Medical Center District for $2,000. “This is surplus property the district no longer needs, and selling it will put it back on the tax rolls,” McWilliams said. Supervisors approved the sale on a motion by Rice and a second by Anthony.
McWilliams also advised the board during the debris‑contract discussion, reminding supervisors of paperwork and contract language required by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. “We need to make sure our debris removal contracts are in line with MDEQ requirements so we don’t jeopardize any reimbursement,” he said.
Grant recapture and
Dickerson’s concerns
A major point of concern during the meeting was a letter from the Mississippi Home Corporation regarding the county’s Emergency Solutions Grant. The Feb. 3 letter to Hart states that in 2025 Sunflower County was awarded a total of $92,714 under the ESG 2024 program for shelter operations but had spent only $28,206.35. Under the agency’s recapture policy, the unexpended balance of $64,507.65 is being taken back because the county failed to meet expenditure benchmarks.
The letter, signed by Senior Vice President of Federal Grants Lisa Coleman, explains that agencies that expend less than 25% of their award by the end of the second quarter of the grant year may face recapture of unspent funds. It notes that the unexpended funds include two contract balances and confirms that Sunflower County’s final ESG 2024 award amount has been reduced to the $28,206.35 already reimbursed.
Board President Gloria Dickerson connected the letter to broader questions about how the county manages grants and programs. “We cannot afford to leave money on the table when we have people who need housing and services,” she said. Dickerson called the recapture “a wake‑up call that we have to plan better and move faster” on grant‑funded projects and directed staff to work with state officials so the county remains eligible for future ESG funding.
ADA compliance and courthouse projects
Dickerson also reported on special projects involving Sunflower County facilities, with a focus on the Ruleville Justice Court and courthouse accessibility. She said additional work will be needed to bring the building into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “We need to make sure every citizen can access our courts,” she said. “ADA compliance is not optional—it is our obligation to the people we serve.”
Supervisors discussed obtaining additional quotes for the work, including ramps, restroom upgrades and other accessibility improvements, and agreed to continue evaluating costs at a future meeting. Dickerson said she wanted the public to understand that some facility projects are driven by federal law rather than local preference.
MHC grant closeout
In a related financial matter, Dickerson led the board through the closeout of a separate MHC grant that had funded housing‑related services. Supervisors approved terminating all remaining paid contracts and authorizing final payments, including $1,000 due to Dr. Brown and paying Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services $5,714.28. “The grant has run its course, and closing it out properly protects the county from any audit findings,” Dickerson said.
Public access, online
services and executive
session
Beyond the new online permit portal, supervisors briefly discussed continuing to make meetings available to the public through livestreams and social media. Rice said he believed the added visibility is good for county government. “People are watching what we do, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “It keeps us accountable and lets citizens see how their county government works.”
Dickerson said she wants citizens to know that supervisors are reachable, whether by phone, in person or online. “We want folks to know they can call us, come to meetings or watch online, but they will always have a way to be heard,” she said.
Before adjourning, the board went into a brief closed session to discuss personnel and legal issues. They returned to open session without taking any action or voting on items related to those matters.
Adjournment
After completing the agenda, the board voted to recess until Monday, March 16, 2026, at 8 a.m. at the Sunflower County Courthouse. “We’ve got a lot more work ahead of us on roads, debris and facilities, but we’re moving forward,” Dickerson said as she gaveled the meeting to a close.
