Sunflower County supervisors on March 16 approved a $633,822 mobilization payment to Upchurch LLC for a $2.5 million courthouse and jail upgrade, holding back $1.2 million in additional invoices while reviewing federal pandemic relief funds that must be fully allocated by Sept. 30.
The county board convened at 8 a.m. Monday at the Sunflower County Courthouse for its regular third‑Monday meeting. 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, County Comptroller Michelle White‑Davis and Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams.
Early in the meeting, White‑Davis reviewed the county’s summary budget report for the month ending Feb. 29 and walked supervisors through remaining allocations from federal pandemic relief funds. She said one line still showed an unspent balance of about $2,131 and reminded the board that all remaining American Rescue Plan Act allocations must be reduced to zero by Sept. 30 or moved quickly to eligible projects.
Supervisors discussed whether any entities that have been awarded ARPA money have been slow to “put the ball in motion,” agreeing they may need to claw back unused allocations in October and move them to projects that are ready to go. Board members noted that some infrastructure work, including a sewer project at North Sunflower Medical Center, is expected to come in under budget, potentially freeing up money for other priorities once final costs are known.
White‑Davis reported February revenues of $4,140,295.26 and monthly expenditures of $10,434,674.63, with $12,997,951.94 in county bank accounts and $4,091,525.40 in tax settlements for the month. Supervisors also clarified that a recent $797,000 note payment from the county’s “use tax” account posted in February, leaving roughly $700,000 in that fund after the debt service payment.
Supervisors question
Upchurch payment
requests
The board then took up three payment requests from Upchurch LLC tied to a $2.535 million energy‑efficiency project that includes HVAC work at the county jail and upgrades at the courthouse. Invoices before the board totaled more than $1.8 million, including a $633,822 “contract mobilization” draw and additional requests of about $1.108 million and $95,000 for work listed on a continuation sheet.
Several supervisors pushed back, saying the contractor is seeking “an excruciating percentage” of the overall project cost while much of the work remains unfinished. They noted that some jail heating and cooling units are still tied into temporary systems, LED lighting has not been installed at all county buildings and courthouse HVAC units outside the building have not yet been set up.
The discussion also revived questions about an earlier $603,000 emergency contract the county approved to restore air conditioning at the jail when units failed last year. Some supervisors insisted that jail plumbing and shower repairs were supposed to be folded into that emergency contract after McWilliams asked Upchurch to revise its paperwork, while others said they believed the $603,000 covered only HVAC work and that plumbing was slated for a later phase.
Board members further questioned why LED lighting costs, which they recalled were originally estimated around $500,000, now appear on the continuation sheet as a $174,000 line item with $130,000 listed as completed. Donald also voiced concern that Upchurch, which supervisors said has undergone an internal split and is “not the original Upchurch” the county dealt with in years past, is drawing heavily against a loan the county will be repaying for years while work is still in progress.
McWilliams confirmed that the county has secured a performance bond intended to protect taxpayers if the contractor fails to complete the project. Even so, supervisors agreed they did not want to “give them all of their money on Friday and half of the work has not been done” and said future draws should be tied to clearly documented milestones.
On a motion by Donald, the board voted to pay only the $633,822 mobilization request, which several members likened to reimbursing Upchurch for materials already staged at county sites. The other two pay applications were tabled, and Hart was instructed to have Upchurch representatives present at the board’s next third‑Monday meeting for a work session to explain the contract, the change orders and how much work has actually been completed.
Homestead actions,
refunds and travel
In other business, Tax Assessor/Collector Cynthia Chandler presented homestead exemption applications for February, which the board received and approved without opposition. Supervisors also approved several land‑roll corrections, including an order adjusting a parcel belonging to Design Build Solutions LLC and authorizing a $62.68 refund to Cleotha Williams, who had paid taxes on the wrong parcel.
A separate order corrected a parcel belonging to Randy Brownlee and authorized a refund of $2,413.26 to Rocket Mortgage after another payment was misapplied. The board then approved Chandler’s request to travel to Biloxi May 26‑29 for training, with expenses covered under the county’s standard travel policy.
Veterans advocacy and conference trips
Veterans Service Officer Ola Kirk briefed supervisors on her upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., where she will join a delegation of Mississippi advocates meeting with members of Congress about veterans’ benefits legislation. Kirk said she plans to push for changes to survivor benefits so young widows of service members are not forced to wait until late middle age to remarry without losing benefits, and to oppose a proposed rule that would tie disability compensation to whether a veteran continues taking prescribed medication.
Kirk asked supervisors to contact their counterparts in Harrison and Hancock counties, who will travel with her, and urge them to support the same federal priorities when they speak on Capitol Hill. She also invited Sunflower County officials to consider joining the delegation in future years, saying state and local voices carry more weight when they show up together.
The board then reaffirmed previously approved travel for Kirk and Veterans Affairs staff to attend a National Association of County Veterans Service Officers conference in Reno, Nevada. Supervisors also endorsed plans for this year’s regional veterans stand‑down, which will again be hosted in Sunflower County and is expected to draw veterans and officials from surrounding counties, bringing additional visitors — and lodging revenue — into the area.
Solid waste, litter
control and
departmental reports
Solid Waste Clerk Toni Williams reported $51,112.65 in garbage collections for the month, including $23,791.25 in arrears, and the opening of 35 new customer accounts. Supervisors commended Williams and unanimously approved her solid waste fee report.
Litter Control Officer Stan Bennett presented his monthly report, saying crews have been working problem areas such as Beaver Dam, Kellogg Road, Kinlock and the U.S. 49 boat landing. He said illegal dumping appears to be declining and noted that one recent dumping incident along North Sheffield Road was resolved after residents identified a possible source and the individuals involved came back and cleaned the site.
Emergency Management Director Mitch Ramage told the board the county reported no major damage from storms the previous night, aside from downed limbs and minor issues near Shaw and other communities. The board also accepted routine monthly reports from the road manager’s staff and other departments without objection.
In a brief discussion following Bennett’s report, supervisors noted that the town of Ruleville has been handling most of its own debris pickup but is struggling with documentation requirements that must be met when outside funding is involved. Board members said they have provided Ruleville officials with sample forms and guidance and hope the city will improve record‑keeping before the county begins its next round of debris collection in unincorporated areas.
The board adjourned after completing its agenda and is scheduled to reconvene on the first Monday of April, with a detailed presentation from Upchurch LLC expected at the third‑Monday session.
