The county”s appointments to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board weren”t the only thing the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors fussed about Tuesday.
District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith sparked an animated conversation about recreation projects when he requested a joint meeting between the county and city boards to discuss the status of the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority”s $1.7 million parks construction project.
District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders took over the conversation at that point, with Brooks complaining of a lack of disclosure and Sanders claiming no significant changes have taken place to warrant an update.
Sanders explained construction at Sim Scott Park and Townsend Park in the city limits will be among the last of seven projects to begin because the city hopes to receive a donation of land from Mississippi University for Women for one of the parks, but must wait for the state Legislature to approve the donation when it meets in January.
He also said the city was waiting on two $250,000 Capital Acquisitions Project loans to fund the projects, but City Administrator David Armstrong reports the city has already received the money.
Brooks said he knew of the circumstances, but complained the supervisors were not being informed through the proper channels.
“People are meeting and we find out by happenstance,” he said. “Everybody needs to be at the meeting.”
Sanders advised Brooks to contact CLRA Director Roger Short if he had any questions regarding the parks projects. Brooks moved to authorize County Administrator Ralph Billingsley to send a letter to Short asking to communicate an update on the projects to the city and county boards.
After Brooks” motion passed, Sanders recounted a phone call he had received from Mayor Robert Smith claiming Brooks contacted Short demanding the city expedite the work at Sim Scott Park.
Brooks immediately denied the accusation, and later claimed to have spoken with Smith to clear the air. Smith could not be reached for comment.
The supervisors also voted to switch insurance agents from Tim Cox to Jack Gordman, and to switch health insurance providers from Humana to Blue Cross.
Billingsley recommended the county stay with Cox, who saved the county upwards of $200,000 two years ago when supervisors switched from Gordman. This year, Cox and Gordman submitted identical quotes, but supervisors cited reports from county employees of unsatisfactory service.
The board also voted to contract with North Atlantic Security to provide security at the new tax assessor”s office. North Atlantic”s bid was $6,720 for three months of security during the office”s busiest collection season.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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