VAIDEN — Insurance costs for counties can be high, but by pooling liability and casualty risk with other counties, Carroll County can reduce costs, supervisors were told Monday.
Derrick Surrette of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors gave details of the association’s insurance plan to the board. He assured them the new risk pool would help the county manage its costs and get better coverage than what it has now. He also said the insurance would go through the same local companies the county has been using.
Carroll County currently pays premiums of $227,000 for its liability and property insurance.
Surrette said the county’s premiums would be put into a trust and the money invested.
“We have large and small counties. We cover earthquake, flood, terrorism and cyber attacks,” he said.
Surette said the policy would cover any volunteers, including firefighters, working for the county.
Board President Honey Ashmore told Surrette he wants to discuss the possible changes with the local agents, and then the board will make a decision about it. Surrette is also getting more information about fire equipment and personnel in order to give premium quotes to the county.
The board voted unanimously to contribute $2,000 to the American Red Cross, Northwest Mississippi chapter.
The chapter said the Red Cross spent $2,928 in Carroll County for disaster relief during the past year and asked supervisors to help defray costs of assisting citizens.
The board also discussed the needs of the Department of Human Services, which has requested a handicapped parking space at the Vaiden office, and refreshing the paint on the handicapped parking space at the Carrollton office. That office also needs a new sign and electrical problems checked. Beat 5 Supervisor Rickie Corley said he would be responsible for the new parking space, and the board will pay for it out of county funds.
In other business, the board:
• Discussed a decommissioned 300-foot tower on Valley Hill near the Teoc area that could be used to help provide Internet service to people in the northwest part of the county, which doesn’t have Internet service other than dial-up. The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol had used the tower, which is on land owned by Mark Smith of Tennessee.
The board agreed that if the MHP gives the tower to the county, then the board would advertise the tower and it could be used for Internet service. The Carroll County Development Association has been working to bring the Internet to the county but has been unable to secure grants to help with infrastructure.
• Approved a lease for Central Mississippi Incorporated, for $400 monthly, until the organization can move to the old Hathorn Elementary School.
• Gave $300 toward a re-start of the Mississippi John Hurt Festival, to be held Sept. 5-6, according to Mary Wright.
• Went into executive session to discuss the county personnel vacation policy and other personnel issues. No vote was taken, according to Board Clerk Sugar Mullins.
