Lowndes passes $38M budget; property taxes remain the same
Residents of Lowndes County who live outside of municipality limits will not see a tax increase this-coming fiscal year.
Our View: Behind closed doors
It’s budget season for counties and municipalities. They have until Sept. 15 to adopt a budget. And we’ve watched as they divvy out the dollars and cents in an attempt to balance their budgets before the deadline.
Brooks calls for openness in budget process
As Lowndes County officials continue to hash out a $38.27 million budget, District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks called for a public workshop prior to the board’s next meeting, Sept. 15.
By state law, the supervisors must adopt a budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, by Sept. 15.
Lowndes County approves courthouse renovation changes
Renovations at the Lowndes County Courthouse will cost just a little more than the $1.86 million expected, due to a leaky roof and complete replacement of the building’s columns.
Brooks calls for county-worker raises
Looking to the city of Columbus as an example, Lowndes County Supervisor Leroy Brooks wants to guarantee county employees raises for the coming fiscal year. The city recently passed a $22.86 million budget, including 3-percent raises for its about 280 employees.
Jury: Lowndes County did not discriminate against road department superintendent
A federal court jury Wednesday found that Lowndes County did not wrongfully terminate former road department superintendent Howard Smart because of his race.
Columbus mayor: Compromise on ninth CVB pick near
Mayor Robert Smith said Friday he expected the stalemate over the vacant seat on the nine-member Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board to end “soon.”
Lowndes needs 20 new tornado sirens, official says
Lowndes County Administrator Ralph Billingsly came to Friday’s Board of Supervisors meeting armed with maps and bad news: According to his estimates, the county needs 20 new tornado sirens, but funds will not be available from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency as supervisors had previously hoped.
Recent storms highlight need for more precautions
Recent storms have Lowndes County supervisors looking closer at safety concerns. Supervisors are considering the addition of a storm shelter at each of the Road Department’s five satellite barns and its central maintenance office, to protect the department’s 60 workers in the event of severe weather.
Work continues on steel project, Stark in industrial park
Work continues on the North Steel Development, near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The project, which will support New Process Steel and Mississippi Steel Processing, includes adding rail, water and sewer service, as well as an airport access road.
Lowndes supes consider demolishing Oakdale Park house after years of neglect
It was obvious Tuesday morning just how tired the Lowndes County supervisors are of dealing with a man his neighbors previously dubbed “the bird man.”
Sanders hosts state-of-the county meeting
It was a packed house on Monday night, for Steens’ community meeting. And more than updates from their supervisor, chancery clerk, sheriff and other officials, residents appreciated the opportunity to pick their brains and share concerns.
Community members voice concerns over flooding
Flooding woes in the Steens area seemed to be the major concern of citizens who were at the neigborhood’s community center Monday night for a town-hall style meeting.
Lowndes County looks to add storm sirens, a $300K project
The county currently has 25 tornado sirens (the city of Columbus has an additional five), and is looking to add 10-15 more, due to the county’s growth over the past several years.
High winds damage Golden Triangle Regional Airport roof
High-speed winds caused $33,000 worth of damage at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport last Monday.
County approves $250K for Severstal campus
In addition to financially supporting Aurora Flight Science’s expansion — which will create of 250 new aerospace jobs — the county supervisors Wednesday approved a loan in behalf of Mississippi Steel Processing and New Process Steel to continue infrastructure improvements in the county’s industrial park.
Community Counseling asks Lowndes county to consider increasing funding
In 2010, Community Counseling Services helped 1,851 individuals in Lowndes County, or 3.25 percent of the population, with mental health or drug and alcohol dependence.
Lowndes supervisors move forward on industrial park land buy
Lowndes County took another step closer to expanding its industrial park into a sprawling development-ready recruitment machine.
District 2 residents seek solution to flood problem
During the last hard rain this spring, homes along Perkins and Ridge roads were plagued with stubborn water. After years of battling flooding, Ray Berry’s childhood home on Ridge Road gave in: Water forced its way into the house.
Lowndes eyes demolition again for Oak Dale Park resident’s overgrown lot
The house is falling apart. The yard is thick with grass and weeds, several feet high.
It is not a new issue.