County judge, mayors meet in Osceola

OSCEOLA -- Osceola was the host site for Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney's every-other-month luncheon meeting with the mayors of all municipalities in the county.

In attendance were nine of the county's 17 mayors, State Representative Tommy Baker, newly-elected nominee and Baker's future replacement, Monte Hodges, and other city and school district officials from across the county.

Carney allowed the mayors to report on things happening in their communities. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reported on the status of the new Dollar General store in his city and new job opportunities coming to the area.

Dyess Mayor Larry Sims discussed an upcoming concert event in his city being planned by a Beale Street entertainment company. Sims also discussed the possibility of that same company bringing additional tourism to Dyess.

Joiner Mayor Sissie Winford-Ross reported her city has spent an additional $10,000 in repaving city streets. Winford-Ross said several stretches, which had been in need of repair, have been addressed.

Etowah Mayor Bo McCollum reported his town received a new police vehicle in March, which has been put to good use.

Dell Mayor Kenny Jackson indicated his community will soon be getting a new $750,000 fire station, something his volunteer department desperately needs and deserves, Jackson noted.

Luxora Mayor Jasper Jackson gave a report on his community's ongoing effort to improve its parks which includes a $38,000 grant they recently received.

Representative Baker said the state ended the year with a $143 million surplus which is the result of cutbacks made in 2011. Baker said the new budget process will begin again in October.

Carney then turned the meeting over to Mississippi County Tobacco Coalition director Elroy Brown Sr. Brown, who is also the new parks and recreation director in Blytheville, said there is a great need to stop the use of tobacco products in all public parks in the county. To date, Osceola, Blytheville and Luxora have all adopted bans on the use of tobacco in city parks.

Brown also praised Act 811 which prohibits smoking in vehicles with passengers younger than 14.

Brown, joined by Hodges, then called Baker to the front of the room.

The two men presented Baker with a plaque honoring him for his steadfast support of the coalition's mission.

Carney then recognized County Senior Programs Director Suzanne Southard. Southard gave a presentation on the need to fund the Meals-on-Wheels program in the county.

The senior program had seen its budget reduced by $50,000 and lost $123,000 in a year's time due to budget cuts and loss of population.

A huge casualty in those cutbacks was the Meals-on-Wheels program. Southard will be asking communities in the county to commit to a monthly monetary amount for two years to go to the MOW program.

Carney concurred with Southard on the necessity of the program.

Carney then noted the Quorum Court has restored $25,000 of the $50,000 the county had sliced from the senior program in 2012.

Carney closed the program with a presentation by representatives from Entergy, Arkansas on the CitySmart Business Solutions Program which is available to any Entergy customer in the state.

This includes municipalities, school districts, commercial and residential customers.

Walter Wills with Entergy went over the finer points of the program which can save customers money by reducing costs through cash incentives, non-cash benefits and projects.