Sunflower County supervisors spent much of their Feb. 17 meeting wrestling with storm-related cleanup, equipment needs and lingering questions over how far to lean on anticipated FEMA reimbursement for January’s winter disaster.
The Feb. 17 meeting opened at 8 a.m. with the board working through a packed docket led by District 5 Supervisor and board President Gloria Dickerson, joined by District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald, District 2 Supervisor Riley Rice, District 3 Supervisor Roger Anthony, Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh and County Administrator Mary Hart; District 4 Supervisor Anthony Clark was listed on the agenda but was not present.
Working from an agenda that ran into the late morning, the board moved briskly through routine business before digging into storm recovery. Justice Court Clerk Patricia Strong, Chancery Clerk McIntosh and Circuit Clerk Carolyn Hamilton each received approval for their monthly reports, with supervisors formally accepting settlements from fee and land‑redemption accounts and school‑related programs and acknowledging cash‑on‑hand balances across county funds. Hart then walked supervisors through a budget update and monthly settlement reports before they turned to travel and training requests, including plans to send county officials to the 2026 Mississippi Association of Supervisors Minority Caucus meeting in Meridian and emergency‑management conferences on the Gulf Coast, part of an effort to better position the county for future disasters.
Tax Assessor–Collector Cynthia Chandler secured board approval of new homestead exemption applications and a request to refund a 2024 tax sale so a landowner can pay delinquent taxes directly in the tax office. Supervisors also granted petitions to adjust assessments on behalf of local residents and businesses, including Flora Bell Minor, BuckaRoo Learning Center and Joann Collins, reflecting the board’s case‑by‑case approach as taxpayers seek relief after the winter storm and amid changing property conditions. Solid Waste Clerk Toni Williams received authorization for the department’s monthly report and a refund item, while Sheriff James Haywood’s report was accepted later in the agenda, rounding out the county’s law enforcement and sanitation updates.
Emergency Management Director Mitch Ramage gained permission to travel to the MFMA/MFCA conference in Biloxi in late May, as supervisors continued discussions about purchasing generators to harden county facilities against future outages. The heaviest debate, however, centered on the engineering and road budgets as County Engineer Ron Cassada and North End Road Manager and Solid Waste Manager Ernest Ross outlined the scale of debris cleanup still ahead on county roads and rights of way. Supervisors approved American Rescue Plan Act–funded sewer system pay requests, talked through closing bridges on Ralph Ray and Joe Stephens roads because of safety concerns, and then shifted to whether the county should buy additional heavy equipment now or wait on clearer federal guidance on reimbursement.
Fleet Maintenance Director Tim Howell presented a lengthy list of needs, including payments for a road grader, APAC invoices for road work and a dump truck to replace one totaled in a recent accident. Howell and Ross described designating county crews for a one‑month debris‑removal push, with the hope that properly documented labor, fuel and equipment costs will qualify for federal reimbursement under the expedited winter‑storm declaration, but several supervisors voiced caution about spending local dollars without firm guarantees from FEMA. Code Enforcer, County Inspector and South End Solid Waste Manager Percel Moore received approval of his monthly reports, along with authority to sell five aging garbage trucks and purchase a used truck through an auction, subject to a negotiated contract designed to stretch limited solid waste funds.
Economic Development Director Steve Rosenthal received permission to file his monthly report and to buy a two‑thirds‑page advertisement in Delta Business Journal to promote county projects and recruitment efforts as the board looks for new investment to bolster its tax base. Supervisors also heard from the case manager for the county’s transitional shelter, who reported on programs for unhoused residents and sought authorization to place two buildings on the site while SCMACS solicits funds for county‑owned space. Plans for a June 20 gala at the National Guard Armory and continued work to reinstate funding at the Mississippi Housing Corporation were outlined as part of that report, with supervisors signaling support for initiatives aimed at stabilizing vulnerable families.
Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams closed out the public portion of the meeting with an update on financing arrangements involving Upchurch Services and Guaranty Bank and a resolution naming bond counsel Trey Hairston, setting the stage for future capital projects and refinancing efforts. The board then voted to extend the county’s emergency declaration related to the winter storm, maintaining its eligibility for state and federal assistance while recovery continues. After a brief executive session on undisclosed personnel or legal matters, board president Dickerson adjourned the meeting with plans to reconvene at 8 a.m. Monday, March 2.
