Union supervisors issue church order, say county still functioning

Union County government continues to function in the face of the pandemic, albeit with skeleton office staffs and some employees working from home. Officials are still having to deal with social distancing problems, however.

The board of supervisors approved two orders Monday, essentially agreeing with the “shelter in place order” by Tate Reeves, the state’s governor. The orders were created in conjunction with the City of New Albany.

One order reinforces the prohibition against groups having 10 or more people, the six-foot social distancing rule and that only essential businesses should be open and patronized when essential.

The second order was directed specifically toward religious organizations.

“I’ve had a lot of calls from preachers,” Sheriff Jimmy Edwards said. “They’re not trying to start anything. They just want to know what to do.”

“The Bible says obey the law of the land but the governor did not make it clear,” he said.

The governor included churches as essential but they still are not exempted from the 10-person maximum part of the order, so there is a question in some pastors’ minds as to whether they are allowed to hold in-person services.

“I think there is a very, very small number that want to do it regardless,” the sheriff said.

Board attorney Chandler Rogers, who has been conferring with city officials about the orders, said, “The sheriff is having to deal with a gray area.”

“We don’t want to be locking a bunch of church folks up,” Edwards said. “We don’t want to be locking anybody up.”

The order the board voted to approve asks churches to hold services through TV, the internet or electronic means, but not in person. Parking lot services are approved, as long as those attending stay in their vehicles and don’t have 10 people crammed in a van, for instance.

Board president Randy Owen said he hopes to appeal to church members’ sense of responsibility and community spirit.

“All we can do is ask,” Owen said. “Common sense in this thing will carry us a long way.”

All county offices remain locked but continue to operate, Owen said. In some cases the staffs are operating out of their homes.

He specifically mentioned the tax assessor-collector’s office as having too many people coming in unnecessarily. Because people are continuing to show up in person, tax assessor-collector Tameri Dunnam said they are working to have all transactions done either by mail or phone. She said April is one of the months with the most tag renewals and they simply cannot have 2,000 people coming to the office to renew tags under the circumstances.

In a related matter, supervisors approved extending deadlines for some tax matters. The deadline for filing or updating Homestead Exemption has been moved from April 1 to May 1, as has the deadline for personal property renditions. The deadline to have real and personal land rolls ready was extended from July 1 to August 1.

Coincidentally, the deadline to file federal income tax returns was extended to Wednesday, July 15, but the deadline to file a Mississippi state income tax return was only extended to May 15.

Union County Emergency Management Director Curt Clayton said he continues to receive personal protection equipment but it is being used up quickly.

“We order on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but we haven’t gotten a complete supply of anything,” he said.

Local healthcare providers are usually responsible for getting their own supplies but because they are now unable to order any, Clayton is providing them with what he can, including masks and gloves.

“I am supplying the police department, sheriff, fire department, first responders, all home health, doctors and clinics,” he said. Even though Union County does not have that many COVID-19 cases, healthcare workers have to take the same precautions discarding equipment that could be contaminated, regardless.

In other business:

A public hearing had been set to consider raising the monthly county solid-waste collection fee by $2. However, board president Randy Owen recommended tabling the issue until the coronavirus pandemic is past and life returns to normal. That motion passed unanimously.

Two public hearings were held concerning having the county cleaning up public property, but no one appeared to oppose or support either. EMA director Curt Clayton said property owners are working on cleaning both sites but suggested the board formally take action to ensure that the cleanup is finished. One site is owned by Kevin Elton Roberts and the other by Herbert Bolte. The second site problem actually involves a beaver dam and levee that could threaten County Road 52.

In personnel matters, supervisors approved three part-time employees for the road department. They are Luke Willard, Sam Callicutt and Hunter Gordon. Supervisor C. J. Bright recused himself from the vote because of a family connection with one of the three.

Board members voted to authorize architect William Mills to advertise for pre-qualification proposals from contractors for the courthouse and old jail project. An archives and history grant will help pay for a new roof for the old jail and some exterior work on the courthouse.

In other personnel matters, supervisors approved a pay increase for deputy Keith Mask due to his completing the law enforcement academy and becoming certified. Also approved were Scott Benson becoming full-time rather than part-time jailer, Chris Gamble being hired as jailer, Michael Durial Johnson being hired as jailer and Karina Love Graham being hired as part-time dispatcher.

In financial matters, the board received bids on six tractors the county wants to sell, but only one bidder submitted anything. Mitchell Scruggs Lawn and Garden quoted prices for the John Deere tractors ranging from $23,500 to $25,000 based on hours of use for a total cost of $144,500. Supervisors voted to accept the bid.

Supervisors had advertised for bids for a Certificate of Deposit connected with the former Union County General Hospital at their previous meeting. However, they tabled a decision on the bids when it became possible that the interest rate on the county checking account might be higher than either of the bids submitted for a CD. That proved to be the case so the board voted Monday to reject the bids and deposit the fund into a checking account instead. The higher rate they will get is 1.36 percent but the fund in question contains nearly $9 million. The fund can only be used if the county has to take over operation of the hospital from the Baptist Healthcare System. Some of the interest can be spent on indigent or prisoner health care, however.

Bids were received for repair of a chiller in the courthouse cooling system. The low bid of $7,620 from Tri-Star was accepted. Conditioned Air bid $10,848.94.

Supervisors decided it would be good to establish a contract with an exterminator to spray all county buildings for termites. Henderson Pest Control bid an initial cost of $15,600 and $3,000 per year afterward. Terminix bid $14,900 and $2995 and was approved as low bid. The contract is only for termite control rather than general pest control.

In miscellaneous business, supervisors approved the consent agenda, which includes monthly items such as the claims docket, board minutes, roadwork schedule, medical examiner fees and solid waste register.

Board members approved appointing supervisor Chad Coffey to serve on the Mississippi Partnership Local Workforce Development Area Chief Elected Officials Board.

Supervisors also approved using seized asset funds to purchase body and vehicle cameras and related equipment for the Union County Sheriff’s Department. The county will pay a yearly fee of $1,200 for a file server and software to contain all the data but the approximately $150,000 cost for the rest will come from seized assets and will cost taxpayers nothing.

The next regular board meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, April 20.