After tabling the matter at their September 2 meeting, the county leaders revisited the pay increase for four court clerks.
The voting on the increase was tabled because the dollar amounts of the raises were not known at the time. Holmes said on Monday that he was not in favor of the increases.
“I’ll make a motion to approve it, but I don’t like it,” he said.
The Chancery and Circuit Court judges made the request and Attorney Johnny McWilliams said the county leaders were obligated to comply with any request from the court unless they appealed it to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Holmes’ contention was also that the request came in after the budget was set and after their budget hearings, which were held in July.
The county lawmakers voted to provide a $1,700 salary increase for court administrators Kimberly Williams and Angela Howard and an $870 increase for Laura Cooper and Lashonda Campbell—legal research assistants.
Because the courts are set up by districts and cross county lines, the amounts of the raises are spread across Sunflower and Humphreys counties that must contribute 38 percent each and Washington County that has to contribute the remaining 24 percent.
In other business,
They discussed a reimbursement payment for Marlow Road.
Although it is a county road, resident Billy Marlow had earlier agreed to pay half of the cost to repair the road, which was estimated to be around $52,000 total.
However, because of some unforeseen factors the final cost was more than $60,000.
The county leaders mutually agreed to not request that Marlow pay more than the exact amount he had originally agreed upon.
No one was named to the MDCC Board of Trustees, Holmes said he has spoken to two people about taking the position, but he is awaiting a response from them.
The board also approved the replacement purchase of a Dodge Durango for the sheriff’s department because the dealership has been having trouble getting the pickup truck that was originally ordered. Sheriff James Haywood said he has deputies that are riding double in vehicles and he needs more vehicles on the road.
The Supervisors voted unanimously to go into a closed executive session to discuss an existing business—GreenpointAg; however Supervisor Donald stated that it was to discuss “the potential sale of some property that the county owns and discussion of some work done for a future prospect.”
When questioned about whether the matter was executive session material since GreenpointAg is an existing business, Attorney Johnny McWilliams explained, “It doesn’t matter if Greenpoint is out there already, new or old, we’re going to discuss purchase or sale of real property, we’re authorized to go into executive session,” he said.
