Coahoma County’s railroad may have landed a new client.
Coahoma County owns track in the northwest corner of the Mississippi Delta that services Clarksdale, Coahoma and Sumner. They entered a lease with American Services last month to maintain the line, store railcars and move freight into the area.
And Johnny Goodwin with the Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors came before Coahoma County supervisors Monday wanting to enter an agreement to build a spur in Sumner. Goodwin said the county has a client who wants to ship rice on the railroad and needs a spur to store and load railcars.
The board appeared pleased with the project, with Dist. 4 Supervisor Jesse Harris asking who would own the spur and who would be responsible for maintenance.
Goodwin said the project is in the early stages and the county is trying to get funds to build the spur. It was pointed out whoever owns the spur would still need access to the county’s line.
Board president Pat Davis asked County attorney Steve Brandon how that might work and Brandon said railroad law is a specialty and he would have to look at how the county might own property in another county that is not under the current rail contract.
“I think we are in agreement about the project,” said Davis, “but we need to work out who owns what before we go any further.”
The county obtained the railroad tracks in Coahoma and Tallahatchie counties years ago in an effort to keep rail service to Coahoma County that could be used to attract industry and move agricultural freight.
The county has had several companies store railcars on county lines and pay the county a fee for each car for several years. That money was initially earmarked to make repairs to the track but now goes into the general fund.
The county’s line has been used to bring carbon black to Goodyear/Cooper Tire and wind turbine components to Clarksdale. Other potential commodities that could be hauled on the line include iron scrap, paper, polystyrene, PVC, fertilizer, cotton, grains and other agricultural products.
While most agricultural grains can be shipped from ports on the Mississippi River, rice presents a problem as it shifts with wave action and can make barges unstable.
In other business:
• Supervisors approved $48,600 for a project to install Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at Fletcher Field.
• The county accepted the Hospital Reserve Fund Report ending Jan. 31, 2025.
• The county approved the county Claims/Bills/Transaction Listing of $1,146,940.61 for February.
• Emergency Management/911 Director Charles Hale said plans to repair the old Sheriff’s Department on Sunflower Avenue as a future E911/EMA center need to be reviewed. Hale said the building has major problems with roof leaks, cracked walls, mold and repairs would not fix the problems.
Hale asked to look into the cost of a metal building to be built on top of the old Jail foundation behind the old Sheriff’s Department. County Engineer Marcus Hooker said he would look at the feasibility of that project.
• County Engineer Hooker said bridge inspections continue and he has once again contacted MDEQ about the county’s solid waste plan.
Hooker said he will have a pre-construction meeting with the contractor to roof the county’s mental health building this week and he will also seek a MDOT rail grant for the county.
• Supervisors accepted a bid of $7,600 from Wallace Signs to install a sign on the front and side of the Expo Center. A similar bid of $9,500 was rejected.
• The board approved personnel updates at the 911 offices.
• The board approved Sheriff Mario Magsby’s purchase of a tag for an inmate transportation van.
• The board approved travel out of the county for three training courses for deputies.
• The board approved homestead exemptions for age as requested by Chancery Clerk Sherita Wilson.
• Supervisors accepted Wilson’s certificate of completion of 14-hours of Chancery Court training.
• The board approved Justice Court Clerk Darlean Lake’s request to approve Justice Court Judge’s Association dues for Judges Anthony Rogers and Derek Hopson at $300 each.
• The board approved the Justice Court paid and unpaid fines report for January.
• The county approved travel for County Fire Chief Stanley Lynom to attend the Fire Investigator Training Course in Oxford.
• The board accepted training certifications for County Firefighter Shemar Burks and Chief Lynom.
• The County Fire Department responded to 16 calls in February.
• The board approved disposal of computers and striking that property from the county’s inventory list.
• Supervisors approved payment of credit card statements and their reconciliation with invoices.
• The county accepted a check for $90,183.04 in monthly gaming revenue.
• Supervisors adjourned until their next regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19 at 2 p.m. at the Courthouse. All board meetings are open to the public and the community is urged to attend.
