Supervisors discuss need for EMS life-saving equipment

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors held their regularly scheduled meeting, Nov. 9 to discuss many issues.

Edwin Mitchell, EMS director, and Ed Anderson, with the Choctaw County Medical Center asked the board for help purchasing needed life-saving equipment.

"If you do look at a new unit, to replace the 04 van, look also at equipping it with the necessary life saving equipment we need," said Anderson.

In the Nov. 2 meeting, Mitchell explained the need for a new ambulance because of the problems with the backup ambulance. The board said they would look into purchasing a new unit.

In this meeting, Mitchell explained that the EMS crew needs a new "monitor" that will cost approximately $20,000 or less. He explained that the cardiac monitor allows the paramedics to perform more diagnostic tools and to provide better healthcare.

He said the monitor allows paramedics to monitor a pulse, the amount of oxygen in the blood, perform an EKG, has a defibrillator and much more.

"The cardiac monitor is the biggest, most expensive and important piece of equipment on the truck," said Mitchell.

He explained the different types of monitors, prices, warranty and that grants are available to help purchase a new monitor.

Anderson told the board if they would help purchase the equipment, the CCMC would do the maintenance just as they have agreed to before.

The board took no action but asked Mitchell to bring more information on available grants.

The supervisors also discussed how to hire a deputy purchasing clerk in the Chancery office. They have discussed this matter for a couple of weeks but are still unsure of the correct legal way to pay for the clerk's salary.

Steve Montgomery, Chancery clerk, said he wrote to the Attorney General, asking for an opinion, on his behalf, to help make the correct decision.

In the last board meeting, the question was raised if the budget included enough money to pay part of a deputy purchasing clerk's salary. District 3 Supervisor Chris McIntire searched the budget and said the 2009-2010 budget for that office was increased by $13,213 and he believes enough to pay part of a salary.

District 5 Supervisor Eric Chambers said that according to information on the state auditor's website, in 2007 Chancery clerks in Mississippi spent 40-60 percent of their revenue paying for deputy clerks salaries.

He said that in 2007, Choctaw County's clerk paid 12 percent of the total Chancery revenue to deputy clerk salaries.

Chambers said by that description, if the county pays a portion of a salary, it would be equal to a 7-8 percent salary increase to the Chancery clerk.

Montgomery said in October the Chancery office brought in $2,800 in fees and that he paid $970 back to the county.

The board discussed the legality of options of paying a portion of deputy clerk's salary but did not make a decision.

The supervisors then approved to resend their previous order of approving to advertise for a deputy clerk job opening.

In other business the board approved:

¥ To submit a pre-applicatoin to the FFA to purchase land and all fees related to the Airport Project totaling $110,150. Marty Crowder, county engineer, said 95 percent of the total money will be federal, 2 percent will come from state MDOT and 2.5 percent will be the county and Ackerman's portion. The county will pay $1,377 out of pocket.

¥ Travel for Brent McKnight, Emergency Management director, to Starkville Nov. 18 for a Safe Rooms class.

¥ Application for USDA grant for Simpson Volunteer Fire Department for a tanker truck and after District 2 Supervisor Larry McClain's recommendation, an ambulance for the county.

¥ Declared Nov. 26-27, Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31 as holidays after Gov. Haley Barbour declared the same as state holidays.

¥ Quote from Delta Telephone for $8,700 to install a new for system for the Courthouse.

¥ Bus turnarounds on Reed Road and Hunt Circle.

¥ Inventory deletion of District 5 radio.

¥ District 1 to repair Bob Mamrack's driveway due to county road damage.

¥ Pay registration fees of $150 each for six county officials for the Mid-Winter Conference.

¥ Pay each volunteer fire department their annual share of the fire rebate money after the VFD returns a rendition report.