District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer said all pending Oktibbeha County road, bridge and infrastructure projects will be “on the table” for discussion Monday as board members hold a workshop on a potential general obligation bond for infrastructure improvements.
In August, supervisors increased taxes by 1 mill to either increase its yearly infrastructure improvement budget or to help retire future bond debt.
Trainer previously said he would support a 10- or 15-year road bond that would bring in about $4 million or $5 million, but on Friday he said the financing package could be extended to $10 million if supervisors can find existing monies and new funding to support debt service.
One ad valorem mill brings in about $345,000 to the county this fiscal year. A $10 million issuance is likely to require at least 2 mills worth of annual debt service. Supervisors previously approved a 1.75 mill increase to fund a $7 million, 20-year bond for a new industrial park.
If supervisors do not use the additional revenue to service a general obligation issuance, the additional $345,000 is expected to be split between the five districts for pending projects.
Trainer said applying those funds to a larger bond package will give supervisors more flexibility in terms of completing new projects and tending to existing maintenance needs and could be used to solve countywide issues, like pending repairs to Oktibbeha County Lake.
“I want to put every project possible on the table and see where they fall. I don’t want anyone to feel slighted or overlooked, because a bond issuance needs three votes to move forward,” he said. “Turkey Creek Road, Blackjack Road, Maben-Sturgis Road and Longview Road are all up for discussion. The best thing we can do … is try and tend to the projects where we can leverage matching funds from outside sources. Once we get those out of the way, then we need to see where we stand with what else is out there.”
In other business, supervisors are expected to set interviews for the vacant Oktibbeha County veterans service officer position next month.
Thirteen people have applied for the position after Ammiana Kenard resigned her post last month, said Oktibbeha County Administrator Emily Garrard.
The incoming service officer will help connect veterans and their families to a wide array of benefits and assistance programs — transitional services; homelessness, mortgage and rent assistance; and food programs.
Supervisors previously set the job’s salary at $15 per hour.
The Oktibbeha County Veterans Service Office is located on the second floor of the chancery courthouse.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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