The Leflore County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday not to intervene to address issues reported at the Department of Human Services.
DHS Director Dynetha Thornton came before the board to ask them to take over her responsibility in obtaining security and cleaning services.
She said the DHS office in Jackson approved the shift in responsibility. She said there have been some misunderstandings and the office in Jackson said she could remove herself from responsibility with the board’s permission.
The county selected and is paying the bill for security and cleaning the building. Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham said the county does provide cleaning and security services for various county buildings.
There have been some concerns at DHS, where the Greenwood police and fire departments have responded to multiple calls.
Thornton has been listed on several police investigative reports involving incidents at DHS.
One employee came to the police station and reported she had received a letter saying she was in danger of harm, according to a police incident report.
The anonymous letter lists several other employees who have allegedly been threatened and urged the recipient to warn them as well.
“(Alfred) King started providing security July 1 and in light of everything that has been going on, it was requested that he not provide the security,” Thornton explained to the board.
She asked that King’s security service be removed.
Thornton said she has also encountered problems in hiring a new cleaning service. She said someone from the Board of Supervisors had interfered with her efforts.
“Anytime you ask someone to do something and they refuse to, and they come back and say that ‘I will talk to the board about it’ — I can’t be effective,” she said.
Supervisor Phil Wolfe moved that the board help with hiring security and cleaning services, and Supervisor Wayne Self seconded the motion. Supervisors Robert Collins and Preston Ratliff voted no. Supervisor Robert Moore was absent.
Because of the tie vote, the board took no action.
Ratliff told Thornton she should fulfill her own responsibility of providing those services.
“I recommend you work out your problems, and I don’t think you will have any interference from this board,” Ratliff said. “I don’t think we should get in the business of selecting your security if that’s your job. I don’t think we should get in the business of selecting someone to clean up your building if that’s under your title.”
Ratliff said she should try to work out the problems she is having with both services and if she can’t, she should present to the board exactly who is causing the disruption.
After the meeting, Collins said, “I’m not trying to play with that. I’ve got too many things on my list to get into the cleaning business.”
