The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors are still discussing whether or not to join the North Mississippi EMS organization that will offer training courses to all Choctaw County volunteer fire departments.

District 4 Supervisor Eric Chambers was absent from this board meeting.

Charles Morris, director of North Mississippi EMS, visited the Dec. 8 board meeting to explain the organization.

Morris said NMS EMS was found in 1975 by state and it is not affiliated with any hospital. Eight counties are members of the organization: Lafayette, Calhoun, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Webster, Union, Tishomingo and the Towns of French Camp and Woodland participate.

Morris said if the county joins they would pay an annual fee of approximately $6,000 or $1,700 a quarter. Once a member of the organization, NMS EMS will teach courses, at a cost, to every fire department, EMS staff, industries and child care facilities.

If the county is not a member, they can teach the courses but the course prices are double.

Morris said other EMS organizations teach students then forget about them, but not NMS EMS.

"We teach and renew and stand behind them in whatever they do," said Morris.

Also if the county joins the organization four people from Choctaw County will need to be appointed to serve on the board and one of those four will be on the executive board

Morris said one of the courses they teach is a first responder course. He suggested that each fire department have six trained first responders.

The board asked about other courses and who generally pays for the courses.

Morris said most counties pay the annual fee than the fire departments pay for training courses.

Steve Montgomery, Choctaw County EMS director, said NMS EMS does keep records of all training in Choctaw County and when firefighters need to be recertified.

Morris assured the board that NMS EMS offers quality courses and does their best to bring the courses to the firefighters.

Later in the meeting the board discussed joining the program but tabled the matter to allow Montgomery time to discuss interest in the program with the fire chiefs.

Another visitor to the board meeting was Maria Macon who asked for the board's support to change the name of Ackerman Elementary School to Charles L. Thomas Elementary. She read a resolution stating the late Thomas' life accomplishments.

Macon said as of Dec. 8, they had 274 signatures and previously approached the Ackerman Board of Aldermen and received unanimous support as a board.

District 3 Supervisor Chris McIntire said the board does not normally get into the school's business.

Thomas Higgins, District 4 supervisor, said they fund the school somewhat but that is it.

Macon told the board that it is a new day and "things will come before you that is not normally done" stating that there is not another building in Ackerman named after an African American.

"You are asking one hand of the government to tell the other government what to do," said McIntire.

District 1 Supervisor Archie Collins said the supervisors could sign the petition individually but not as a body.

Macon said she doesn't want the to tell anyone what to do but wants the Choctaw County School Board to know that they put an effort in the petition.

"If the school board sees fit to change the name then we will support it as a body," said Higgins.

Macon asked the board to sign as individuals.

Phyllis Benson, with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District was present at the board meeting to discuss possibilities of receiving a grant to fund a sprinkler system at the Choctaw County Medical Center. No action was taken.

Don Threadgill, Chancery clerk, informed the board that they were awarded the competitive solid waste grant for the first time in several years.

The grant is $15,000 awarded to supervisors for clean up of unauthorized dumps. The board approved the grant and to use GTPPD for administration services.

Also in the board meeting, Threadgill told the board that Mark Carruth has asked the county to allow him to opt out of the county's solid waste program because he wants to take his own solid waste to the landfill.

Threadgill discussed the matter with MDEQ and they said the county has discretion of to allow or not to allow him to opt out.

After a short discussion, McIntire made the motion to deny Carruth's request to opt out of the county's solid waste program with a second from McClain.

The board voted unanimously to deny his request.

In other board business the supervisors approved:

€ Contract with Peggy Miller, Circuit clerk, to compensate her to program the voting machines at $50 per machine.

€ Maintenance agreement for the Hazard Mitigation grant stating the board will maintain the new generators when purchased.

€ List of people requesting a reassessment or reduction of land roll taxes from Lynn Ray, tax collector/assessor.

€ Entered into minutes that the state tax commission approved the county's real and personal tax roll.

€ Travel for Montgomery to attend a 911 legislative meeting in Rankin County.

€ To title, tag and purchase insurance for the new county ambulance.

€ T o apply for the 2009 non-competitive solid waste officer grant.