The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors agreed Monday to purchase a parking lot and building near the courthouse. Supervisors say the space will be needed for parking after the county expands it E911 center.

The property is owned the Waters Truck and Tractor Company.

County Administrator Ralph Billingsley updated supervisors on the plans to purchase the property for $250,000, contingent on an appraisal of the property that values the property at that amount our higher.

“This is something we have been talking with (Waters) about for some time, since we approved the E911 expansion,” Billingsley told supervisors. “We wanted to buy the parking lot on the southeast corner of Second Street North, but they said they wanted to sell the building across the street and didn’t want to sell either property separately.”

Because the E911 expansion include areas that are currently being used for parking, the need for additional parking space will be critical, Billingsley said.

“Short-term, we really don’t have any plans for the building, which is probably about 12,000 square feet,” Billingsley said. “Our main interest was the parking lot. As far as the building, at some point we might want to put some county offices in there or lease out the space.”

The building is located at 530 Second St. North.

Supervisors unanimously approved the sale, contingent upon the appraisal.

In other business

Supervisors also approved the purchase of a new fire truck for District 5 at a cost of $252,000. Part of that cost — $75,000 — will come from a state grant, county fire administrator Sammy Fondren said. The board’s decision authorizes Fondren to order the truck, but since it takes six months to build, the cost will come from the 2016 budget.

Fondren also received approval from the county to agree with Clay County on fire coverage in Mayhew. Under the new agreement, the Tibbee Fire Department will be the primary service provider for the Mayhew area. Fondren said the Tibbee Station is much closer to the area than the nearest Lowndes County fire station in District 5.

“If a call comes in at East Mississippi, both our fire department and Tibbee will respond,” Fondren says. “This just makes Tibbee the official responder for the record.”

The supervisors also authorized county coroner Greg Merchant to accept a $10,000 Homeland Security grant for disaster equipment. Merchant said the money will be used to purchase an additional generator and a mortuary cot.

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].