Four county administrators over four years has allowed a lot of things to slip through the cracks and Coahoma County Supervisors are working to get the books in order.
The board took action on several items ranging from paying local vendors on time and a new credit card policy to Election Commission unencumbered cash and the sale of surplus and wrecked vehicles at the Sheriff’s Department.
Interim County Administrator Otis Griffin brought a new credit card policy to the board Monday afternoon. The new rules require anyone using a card to bring an actual receipt to the county administrator and fill out a form explaining the purchase.
Coahoma County had a chronic problem with several credit cards that would not work because of unpaid balances. In one incident two deputies were sent to Illinois to pick-up a wanted man and the county’s credit card was denied, forcing the deputies to use their personal credit cards to pay expenses.
The county also learned Judge Derrick Hopson had made reservations for a seminar using a county credit card but did not attend the event.
The county saw several Clarksdale businesses deny the county credit to make purchases after balances grew and were not being paid this spring.
The county also found out Monday the Coahoma County Election Commission had a credit of $80,000 even after the county cut corners this summer to stick to a tight budget. Supervisors asked the Election Commission to seek reimbursement from the vendor holding the $80,000 balance.
Sheriff Mario Magsby came before the board seeking to sell several wrecked and surplus vehicles.
Magsby said the vehicles were purchased with Sheriff’s Department funds and he wanted the roughly $100,000 that would be earned from the sale of the vehicles to go back into his budget.
Supervisors asked repeatedly for details about what county money had been used or from what line items the vehicles were purchased. County Board Attorney Tom Ross pointed out how those vehicles were paid for would determine if the funds went into the sheriff’s budget or the county’s general fund.
All these items follow a delayed audit from the county’s auditor seeking to smooth out kinks in the county’s books.
That delay has prevented the county from leasing autos for the Sheriff’s Department and letters from the State Audit Department asking for information about Coahoma County’s finances.
Dist. 4 Supervisor Jesse Harris requested a work session in February to get with all elected officials and department head cited in the county’s recent audit. There were an unprecedented 11 findings, discrepancies or violations in the county’s last audit.
“We need to get all of those people to come to the table and tell us what they are doing to prevent this from happening again,” Harris said at that time. “As supervisors we are ultimately responsible.”
In Other Business:
• The board was approached by Chuck Rutledge once again asking the county to formally sign on as a statutory partner for a walking trail along the Sunflower River and revitalizing the Old Clarksdale High School.
Coahoma Collective has been named the recipient of a state and federal grant totaling $1.278 million. That grant would help build a walking trail along the west bank of the Sunflower River from Soldier Field south to Third Street, cross over the river on a pedestrian bridge and work its way back to the First Street bridge.
Rutledge said is seeking a second federal grant that would turn the old high school property into affordable rental housing, a disaster recovery center and create a community land trust that would buy older properties that have fallen into disrepair and build houses on those lots. The project would also make a memorial pool at the site of the old city pool that was filled in by segregationists.
Rutledge said he needs the county’s approval and a signature to become a partner to seek this second grant that could be as much as $20 million. Rutledge said time is running out for the application and urged the county to sign at the next meeting or by the end of the month.
Rutledge said there was no liability to the county and he was not asking the county to maintain the property in the city. He also said there was no match by the county for this grant, but those involved in the development may pursue state tax credits.
• Election Commissioner Andrew Thompson came before the board seeking three new voting machines for the county.
Thompson came before the board last month seeking to form a new voting precinct at Coahoma Community College. Supervisors denied the request saying the county did not have enough voting machines, it was too close to the election and the expense to the Circuit Clerk and the county was prohibitive. The county was told personnel for a new precinct and voting machines could cost the county $10,000.
On a motion by Harris and a second by Dist. 3 Supervisors Darrell Washington the county voted to purchase one voting machine as a backup and one handicapped accessible machine from its vendor and asked the balance held by the vendor be returned to the county.
• County Engineer Marcus Hooker came before the board with a grant application for the county’s solid waste plan that could save the county $18,942.
Hooker also presented the board with a list of bids opened Oct. 2, to repair roofs at the Mental Health building, County Shop, EMA building and Bobo Fire Station and Community Center.
Hooker also suggested the county contact state lawmakers now about local and private legislation for special project in 2025.
• The board adopted its agenda and accepted September minutes.
• The board approved $10,696 in raises for four people in the Tax Collector’s office and $13,980 in raises in the Tax Assessor’s office. The funds will come out of the Tax Assessor/Collector’s budget.
• The board approved travel for the Sheriff’s Department, training for Deputy Charles Sledge and a resignation and new hires for the department.
Magsby also requested the county enter a contract for body cameras.
• The board approved a lease with Southern Duplicating for the Chancery Clerk.
• The board approved the Spring Initiative Internship Program Contract that will see a student work in the Chancery Clerk’s office.
• The board approved travel for Chancery Clerk Sherita Wilson to attend the State Legal Responsibilities Workshop.
• The board reviewed Justice Court fines and revenue for August.
• The county approved the Inventory Control Clerk's fixed Assets Ledger from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 as required by state law.
• The county approved the Physical Inventory of Assets.
• The board approved payment of its transaction list for Oct. 7, 2024 of $1,878,812.34.
• The board reviewed the Comparative Budget Report of September for all county offices.
