By Christopher Young,
Contributing Writer,
The New Year got off to a good start for the citizens of Hinds County as the Board of Supervisors convened at 9 a.m. on January 2, 2024, for their first regular board meeting of the year. There was a feeling in the air of a fresh start – no drama, no outbursts, no infighting – just focus on the people’s business with a commitment to improved communications, teamwork, and addressing the needs of the people.
After a prayer by Rev. Dr. Jesse Horton of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson, and the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Robert Graham led the process for nominating and electing a new board president and vice president.
After receiving a nomination from Wanda Evers, Robert Graham, who was reelected without opposition for his fifth term as District 1 Supervisor, was voted in by the board as its new president and presided over the meeting.
Incumbent District 5 Supervisor Bobby McGowan, who prevailed in the run-off election for another term, nominated himself for president of the board, but the nomination failed.
Graham nominated Wanda Evers, who prevailed in the August run-off for District 4 Supervisor, for board vice president. She was voted in by the board as the new vice president. District 5 Supervisor McGowan also nominated himself for VP, yet his nomination was not seconded.
The board approved the bonds for the board. Other bond approvals followed, including for health and safety, public welfare, water & sewer, garbage disposal, fire protection, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, surveyor, sheriff, coroner, purchasing clerk, assistant purchasing clerk, receiving clerk, inventory clerk, etc.
Graham then provided all supervisors with two minutes each if they wanted to share any comments about their agendas. District 2 Supervisor Anthony Smith thanked his supporters and spoke of the need for rebirth in Hinds County, “We need to change the way we are doing things. I’m getting out in the community and talking to homeowner’s associations. We need to work as a team, a collective effort to represent all citizens.”
District 3 Supervisor Deborah Bulter Dixon indicated, “I’m a former House Representative for District 63 and I want to thank the voters… and there is going to be some changes in Hinds County.”
District 4 Supervisor Wanda Evers said, “I would like to thank everyone who supported me for this run…we are going to make great changes as Supervisor Dixon and Smith said…we are working as a team and we are going to make sure that the needs of the people are taken care of…you all have to remember that we serve you, you don’t serve us, and that’s what we are here for.” District 5 Supervisor McGowan shared, “Thank God for waking us up this morning…I’d like to thank my constituents for voting for me…we will continually work for you.”
Judge Winston Kidd, Senior Hinds County Circuit Court Judge, was introduced to request the reappointment of Attorney Gail Wright Lowery as Chief Public Defender. “Four years ago, Senior Circuit Judge Tommie Green appointed Gail Lowery to this position, and she has done a wonderful job, and I signed an order last week to reappoint her and I am here today to ask the board to ratify that order.” The matter was motioned, seconded and passed unanimously.
Judge Winston thanked the board for their action and asked that everyone keep his colleague Judge Faye Petterson in prayer as she lost her mother this morning.
District Attorney Jody Owens announced that on January 22, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. there will be a special briefing for the Board of Supervisors and the Hinds County Legislative Delegation to address the shift in crime in the county.
The board was then in executive session at 9:20 a.m. and returned at 10:05 a.m. Upon returning, Attorney Tony Gaylor announced that in executive session several things happened: he was reemployed as board attorney, Chambers & Gaylor Law Firm was hired as special counsel, Blackmon & Blackmon law firm was hired as special counsel, the Espy Law Firm, PLLC, was hired as special counsel, Lure Berry was appointed the interim county administrator for a period of 90 days, Rod Hill of IMS Engineers was reemployed as the county engineer, Worth Thomas Consultants and Keystone Strategies were both employed as lobbyists for Hinds County, Dion Quinn was appointed as interim county road manager and public works director for a period of 90 days, to name a few.
Gaylor announced that the board approved Martin Luther King Day to be observed on January 15th of this month. He also announced that the board has adopted a policy to have two regular board meetings (1st and 3rd Mondays), and two work sessions (2nd and 4th Tuesdays). Later, Graham elaborated on the suggestion he credits Dixon with, moving to two work sessions that will be divided into four categories of discourse: discussion, updates, proposals and presentations and citizen concerns. He added that once we get to our agenda at the regular and special board meetings, it will be considered a consent agenda, and the only thing we will do at those meetings is to give up or down votes. This will shorten those meetings. He emphasized how the board intends to bring the citizens stability and civility.
Prior to adjournment, the board voted to increase their salary from $54,000 to $56,000. The legislature approved the funds last year, but for to be enacted the board must vote on it and they did.
Be the first to comment