The Jefferson Davis Board of Supervisors met Monday morning for first meeting of March.

Rev. Jessie Holloway offered prayer before the meeting was called to order and the agenda was approved.

Blake Spiers with ComSouth reported that the new E-911 system and internet have now been installed in the new jail.

When the supervisors originally agreed to the new system, the plan was to bring the old radio console and use it with the new system.

Spiers expressed concern to the board that the old base radio is not feasible with the new equipment now that there will be one central dispatch for the county.

“It’s very hard, if not impossible, to page out everyone in the whole county with 12 radios on a desk,” said Spiers.

Using the old base system would mean each of the two dispatchers had six radios to use with the dispatchers having to change channels to reach all emergency personnel.

“If you have a multi-agency incident with multiple page outs and multiple departments and get on one station and forget to switch back, it could cause an issue,” said Prentiss Assistant Fire Chief Michael Davis.

“The radio console was not thought to be necessary originally, but it is a very crucial part of what we need to make the central dispatch happen.”

Spiers requested the board add that piece of equipment back into the package. Jefferson Davis County Emergency Management Director Jocelyn Ragsdale agreed it was necessary for the safety of the residents. “Seconds count,” she said.

JDC Sheriff Ron Strickland was consulted and concurred that the new equipment was needed.

“This is the only way the central dispatch is going to work; we have to have the new equipment,” said Strickland.  “Our current 911 system is outdated. We need this.”

The board approved the purchase of the $86,000 equipment.

The board approved a request by James Bridges to remove an old Williamson Mill fire truck from his property.

County engineer Les Dungan and attorney Wes Daughdrill gave their reports.

In other board news, the board approved the following without opposition before going into executive session then recessing until Wednesday morning:

• Approved minutes

• Approved Board President signing for Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources Notification of Intent to Apply for Federal Assistance Available for Public or Private Non-Profit Organizations to Provide Transportation Services to the General Public in Non-Urbanized Area

• Approved Board President signing letter to U. S. Bank certifying insurance coverage for the Justice Complex

• Approved spreading into the Minutes Reservation Letter signed by Board President from Mississippi Home Corporation accepting County’s application

• Approved school bus turnaround in District 2at 58 Burkett Road and District 5 at 11 Newton Davis Lane.

• Approved transfer of District 2 Supervisor truck to Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved term lease expiring with Trustmark for District 5

• Approved spreading into the minutes Release of Liability of tree removal on Haynes Gray Rd in District 2.

• Approved employee action forms for Districts 1, 2 and 4.

• Approved spreading into the minutes Employee Action Form for Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved Supervisor District 2 traveling for excess materials from Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula for donation to the Vo-Tech Center.

• Approved request from Jefferson Davis County Ball Park Committee for request of yearly recreation funds for $19,500.

• Approved request for advertising county resources for Run for the Roses for $500.

• Approved payment of invoices: AAA Contracting & Construction – retainage fee District 1 for $42,183.98, District 2 for $10,388.12, District 3 for 8,936.99, District 4 for $12,521.53, District 4 for $10,337.34; Magco for $51,249.39 for Sam Graham Road; Pearl River Valley Opportunity for $5,000; Kids Hub for $5,000 and Columbia Law Enforcement Training Academy for $240.

• Approved overage on purchase order for Pigott Oil, 0.40 gallons, Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved deletion from inventory Emergency Management Asset #1070-hand held radio

• Approved destruction of records.

• Approved claims.