The county lawmakers voted to extend their emergency COVID-19 policy for another month.
"I think other counties that are cutting it out, they're trying to follow what the government did and that's not a good trend because that Delta variant, that thing is on the rise," Supervisor Glenn Donald said.
He also surmised that the people who have not been vaccinated are walking around without masks because the people who have been vaccinated are walking around without them. He asserted that his reason for extending the policy is simply because, "We just need to be careful for our constituents."
Board President Rice added that Mississippi's vaccination rate is one of the lowest in the nation at 31% and Dr. Anthony Fauci has changed his position and said that the nation needs to continue to wear masks.
Additionally, they also denied a request from the county's two public defenders to allocate $2,845 each for them to travel to Florida for a conference. Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh said she explained to them that no money was budgeted for them to travel.
Donald asserted that the training was COVID-19 related; however, McIntosh said the information that the attorneys provided to her did not mention anything that was COVID-19 related.
After advocating for the trip, Donald eventually made a motion that was initially seconded by Rice and the two of them voted yes. However, when District 5 Supervisor Gloria Dickerson asked to again verify the cost per person, Rice changed his vote and the measure failed.
County Engineer Ron Cassada gave an update on some of the bridge repair work being done.
