Supes approve to pay portion of deputy clerk salary

After many discussions over the past few months, the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors approved in a 4-1 vote to pay a portion of a part-time deputy Chancery clerk's salary. District 5 Supervisor Eric Chambers voted against the county paying a portion of the salary.

In the Jan. 8 board meeting, Steve Montgomery, Chancery clerk, asked the board to consider, again, of hiring a deputy clerk to help with the load of work for the Board of Supervisors.

After many discussions in November, Montgomery requested an Attorney General's opinion of whether or not it is legal for the county to pay a portion of a deputy clerk's salary if the clerk does a portion of the Board of Supervisors' work. He received the AG opinion over the holidays.

"Ya'll need to let me hire, so ya'll don't have to advertise and if we agree on pay," said Montgomery.

The board discussed what percentage of the salary the county would contribute. The deputy clerk would serve as an assistant purchasing clerk and administrative clerk.

District 5 Supervisor Eric Chambers made it clear that he believes the Chancery Clerk's office should be ran the same way the late Don Threadgill ran it for 13 years.

"It should be run no different today than it was before Sept. 14, 2009 for 13 years and was prior to last clerk," said Chambers.

The supervisors discussed the reasons why Chambers is against paying a portion of the salary then Montgomery explained that how the salary of a Chancery clerk is paid.

He said the clerk is paid from several different revenue streams including being paid for court terms.

"It's (Chancery clerk salary) not clean cut. For what I figured, right now, I can't afford to pay a full-time clerk," said Montgomery.

After more discussions, District 4 Supervisor Thomas Higgins made the motion to allow Montgomery to hire a part-time clerk with the county joining the hire and paying a portion of the salary. District 3 Supervisor Chris McIntire seconded the motion. The motion was approved in a 4-1 vote with Chambers voting against it.

In other business the supervisors approved:

• One extra day of travel for Glenda Fulce at election commissioner training for training of new election commissioners.

• Recognize Steve Wright's resignation as county public defender.

• Recognize Joey Hood as new county defender as appointed by Circuit Court Judge Joey Loper and set pay as same as now with the same amount of allowed office expenses per year.

• Annual donation to the Summer Youth program of $5,000.

• Travel for Chris Coleman, fire coordinator, for training in Jackson Jan. 19-20.

• Tax reductions and one increase as suggested by Lynn Ray, tax collector/assessor.

• M&F Bank's bid for county depository for 12 months with an interest rate of 0.25 percent.

• 16 section lease for Reform Chapel Church.

• Recognized Jan. 18 as a holiday.