Supes hold public hearing for tax rolls

The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing to hear any objections to the 2009 real and personal tax rolls.

An objection was made by Dennis Deegear, representative of Suez Energy, from Austin, Texas. Deegear filed an objection on behalf of Choctaw Generation LP and Choctaw Gas Generation LLC to the formula Choctaw County uses to calculate the assessments of the facilities.

Deegear asked the board to consider changing the current formula to an income based formal. According to Degeer, the income-based formula would save the companies money on their taxes.

Greg Nowell, county appraiser, also participated in the discussion on behalf of the county.

After hearing the objection, the board approved a motion to have the companies provide more financial information and upon receiving this information, the county would have the properties re-evaluated by Nowell and address the issue in the Aug. 10 board meeting.

Also in the board meeting, Phylis Benson, project analyst with Golden Triangle Planning and Development discussed applying for a Small Municipality grant. She said the grant has a max of $100,000 maximum with some local match, either in kind services or cash. Benson said the grant is completely discretionary. The board discussed whether to apply for the grant to asphalt the Courthouse parking lot or install the required fence at the Choctaw County Jail.

During the meeting, the board discussed changes to the Solid Waste rental agreement for extra cans and whether or not to file judgments against garbage generators and homeowners in Justice Court and/or Circuit Court. No action was taken.

The supervisors also discussed exploring options of how to track what county employees do on the Internet while at work, as prompted by District 5 Supervisor Eric Chambers.

Don Threadgill, Chancery clerk, said he would check into options for that issue.

In other business the supervisors approved:

¥ Certificate from Mississippi Tax Commission acknowledging that Lynn Ray, tax assessor/collector sent in the tax recapulation form.

¥ Extension contract to January 2010 for the Union Water Association project.

¥ Release budgeted funds of $2,000 for the Youth Soccer Program.

¥ Authorize to publish 2009-2010 budget increase.

¥ Letter of engagement for the state audit department to perform the required 2007-2008 FY audit. This audit will cost approximately $34,000.

¥ To purchase a tag, title and insurance for 2009 Ford 250 truck fort the Sheriff's Department. The truck was purchased with funds from a Homeland Security grant.

¥ Travel for Al Montgomery to attend training in Flowood. All expenses will be reimbursed to the county.

¥ For the SO to apply for the 2009-2010 Homeland Security grants for tactical equipment and to install a fence around the SO.

¥ Authorize to publish for bids to install the sprinkler system at the Choctaw County Medical Center.

¥ For District 4 to sell a backhoe to Waste Services for $10,500 to use at the landfill.

¥ To transfer monies from District 1 and District 5 accounts to District 4 to help purchase tar when the supervisors paved roads in all three districts.

¥ Authorize to publish to sell the Bounds Clinic.