**EDITOR’S NOTE: The Republican hopefuls for Mississippi County judge participated in a question and answer piece designed to allow voters to know their stances on the issues.
Ken Kennemore: The decrease in our population is the most important issue in our county. We have people moving out of the county and also people that are employed in Mississippi County that never move here. There is not a way for county or local government to fix this problem, but I believe that as a community we can. If we look at the entire county there are a lot of positive things to promote and we have to start showing and reminding people of those things. We have to stop focusing on the area of the county we live in and start advocating for our entire county. As our employment opportunities grow in Mississippi County so will the need for people to relocate to our area. If we promote the entire county and showcase the positive attributes we collectively have to offer, we are much more likely to attract people to our local communities rather than to neighboring areas. Mississippi County is our home and we should do our best to encourage others to call it “home,” as well!
John Alan Nelson: Mississippi County is the fourth largest county in the state of Arkansas comprising 920 square miles, with 46,000 residents with a median income for a household under $28,000 of which 23% live below the poverty line. We have a long standing tradition of being divided politically and culturally between the north and the south along district lines as well as a division east and west along Big Lake. The biggest issue the county is facing would depend on your annual income, race, where you live and what you do. In the Blytheville area, the biggest issue is poverty. We have a high crime rate, drugs, and blight, all symptoms of poverty. Eradicating poverty will remove these symptoms. We can reduce the poverty here in Blytheville, we have the money, we have the Arkansas Northeastern College, the Harry L. Crisp Center, the Center for Allied Technologies, the Vo-Tech Center, the partnership with SMS group (a first in North America), The Great River Economic Development Foundation, The Mississippi County Economic Opportunities Commission, the recent expansion in our booming Steel Industries along with the many satellite industries that surround them, a multitude of talented, passionate individuals who want to see the much needed change here and will not give up, and young people that are returning here to make Blytheville their home. All these things are coming together and collectively we will do away with the poverty, and Mississippi County government will play a key role in that success.
If you live west of the lake, the biggest issue would be that over 47 million dollars has been spent by county government attracting new industry while only a small fraction of that has been invested in that area. Our diversity in agriculture is vast and as we see cotton beginning to come back, we also see peanuts taking a lead in a high revenue producing commodity as well as a rotational crop. Within the last few years we have become known coast to coast in producing and harvesting the highest quality peanuts in the country. And like cotton, soybeans, corn and rice we add no value to these commodities and ship them out in their raw form to other areas to be crushed, shelled and processed leaving millions of dollars on the table for other areas to have the benefit of adding value to those commodities. A single investment of 10 million dollars funded through private industry and incentivized through industrial development for a buying point facility could pave the way for a hundred million dollar peanut sheller which could bring global leaders in processing, packaging, and transportation to Mississippi County. This would provide value added investments to our raw commodities as end products to consumers. We are known around the world in production, but have missed the boat on the industries processing those commodities for the consumer.
If you live south of the district divide, the biggest issue would be active engagement of county government with Osceola, Keiser, Bassett, Joiner and surrounding areas. Many of these cities and communities have been left out of the loop in county government decisions. The answer would be to build a strong relationship with the leaders and residents of the areas and provide them with a voice in the decision making process that affect us all.
For those that live in the south/midwestern side of the county, the roads and drainage are the biggest issues. We have not used much natural stone as a top dressing to our county roads in twenty years. The traditional sized slag has since been replaced by a much finer grade product and we have never used the byproduct from Plum Point Power Plant commonly known as “fly ash” as a sub-based foundation. Utilizing more natural stone as a top dressing would decrease the amount of time and money we invest in our roadways as well as reduce the amount of wear and tear on our personal vehicles as well as our work vehicles. The investment of fly ash would serve as a firm foundation especially in our areas whose soil type tends to sink and swell. Without adequate drainage our roads, yards, homes and environment suffer. Continued work in our drainage is never a favorite topic of conversation when the weather is dry, but during our wet season excessive rains can be catastrophic, especially in our rural areas.
There is no “one” biggest issue that our county is facing because of the diversity and demographics. I have been traveling the county and meeting with people since we began this campaign in early September. I know what the residents here need and I know their complaints and issues. I’ve visited with mayors, city council members, church congregations, quorum court members, firemen, policemen, deputies, farmers, people associated with our steel industry, and many others both in municipal areas and rural areas as well.
Nelson: If a new court house building is needed, I am prepared to meet the challenges for its construction. However, there may be alternatives and possibilities for a less expensive and a less radical approach to solve the courthouse issue.
The imperfect quality of our cities and county and inevitable challenges surround us as we strive to make living here a better place for us all and our children to come after us. I am very much aware that a number of the people living here in Mississippi County, especially the north end of the county, that have no interest in keeping up our aging courthouse. Not only do a number of people have little or no interest in keeping it, but are decidedly in favor of its destruction and with reason. There are also a number of people who are passionate about keeping up our courthouse, also with reason. I am one of the latter. The structural and electrical integrity of the courthouse building needs to be known. I do believe there is value here in this building and if possible I would like to see it renovated.
The preservation of historic buildings is a one-way street. There is no chance to renovate or to save a historic site once it’s gone. And we can never be certain what will be valued in the future. This reality brings to light the importance of saving buildings of historic significance―because once a piece of history is destroyed, it is lost forever. Preserving and continuing the usage of our courthouse promotes respect in our children growing up here. The destruction of the old courthouse will leave another empty lot. The new one will not have the same architectural value as the old; it will not contain a marble stair case, or copper drains, or terracotta roof. It will be an oversized office building bare of any intrinsic design. Preservation and restoration encourages further value of buildings following the same fate. Preservation is cheaper than building a new courthouse and indebting ourselves for decades. In the end of those decades, we will again need another building. Preserving both our courthouses defines who we are and where we came from. It characterizes and emphasizes our heritage. Preserving our old buildings is the ultimate in recycling. It keeps construction material out of our landfill.
If we do build the new courthouse, the fact is that we will now have three courthouses. No plans have been made as to what we will do with the old one. Will we walk away from it and merely allow it to stand unkempt and unsightly? Will we tear it down? What about our World War II hero that is buried in the courtyard? What will happen to the ground itself? Will the lot be mowed and maintained, and by whom? And what will be the annual costs?
Preserve, restore and protect what we have now and build from there. Do not cheapen our heritage, value it and keep it clean and working. Be an example to our youth and show them what responsibility to our surroundings look like.
Keeping this courthouse provides an insight into the history of our county, showing us how people many decades ago lived their lives. Without these, we could only learn by books, and it would undoubtedly be sad if this were the only way to see them. This certainly does not mean that modernization should be discouraged. I believe that old buildings can be protected in tandem with progress.
If we need auxiliary buildings to enhance our advancement, then by all means let’s pursue those new structures.
When we do erect county government buildings, the mindset behind that construction should always be to keep and maintain the structures with great effort and meticulous detail in all aspects including cleanliness and preservation whether it is one year old, ten years old or one hundred years old. This focus on safeguarding the integrity of the building and grounds will act as an example to our youth and neighbors and neighborhoods and have an impact on how those outlying areas are treated as well. We are to be examples of thrift, independence, economy and austerity while embracing appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of our surroundings. The show of these qualities has a direct impact on the people that observe those conditions before them. The same is true for the opposite. Throwing away our heritage with consumerism devoid of discretion and piling upon ourselves debt in order to try and convince passersby an allusion of who and what we are will not sustain or improve our growth.
Acceptance of our transience and imperfection sows seeds of wisdom and growth which leads to a natural beauty and establishes richness in our communities and people. These are the attributes that are worthy to emulate. These are the seeds of tradition that have been planted before us and we should continue to follow and build upon.
Our courthouse was built at a time before air-conditioning was invented, before insulation was widely used, before anyone foresaw the necessity of wiring for better lighting or intranet and internet computer capabilities. This building is imperfect now just as the buildings coming will be imperfect as time continues. The future is unpredictable and the evolution of ever changing usage and conditions will carry on. Accepting these ideas connects us to our real world and escape potentially stressful distractions. Learning to find the most basic, natural objects interesting and fascinating as they age is truly beautiful. Our perception of this old courthouse building with its cracks and weathered façade, its imperfections and limitations gives it greater value and the fact that we embrace these values tells a story about ourselves too. It tells that we are not a wasteful group but a respectful one who has no apology or remorse for valuing our past in spite of its flaws. This is the way we become better. Our old and aging courthouse upon a closer look reveals our history of social life and to a close observer become central to Mississippi County’s cultural identity.
Kennemore: I think that we need to have two functioning courthouses where citizens can receive the services that are currently being provided. The Osceola Courthouse needs some work but, with some updates and repairs, it could service the needs of citizens for years to come. The Blytheville Courthouse has not fared as well. The quorum court is currently getting estimates to determine the cost of building a new courthouse in Blytheville. (In my opinion, the money to repair the existing courthouse in Blytheville along with the expense of securing more space for storage, if a new one is not built, would not save a sufficient amount of money.) When we get the estimated cost for the Blytheville Courthouse, we will add the estimated cost for the updates and repairs for the Osceola courthouse. In order to pay for this solution to our “courthouse issue,” we would need to issue revenue bonds, which would require voter approval. The courthouses are deteriorating more every day, so time is of the essence. We must get a plan in place!
I believe that extending the hospital tax would be the best way to pay back the bonds. The ½ cent hospital tax is currently set to sunset in 2020. The current tax has helped put the hospital in better financial shape and allowed them to update and add much-needed services. The hospital board has said previously that they would be willing to split the tax with us, which would allow us to pay back the bond and give the hospital more long-term revenue since the tax would extend past 2020. The hospital would only get ½ as much but for a much longer time. If we extend it, we are not adding another tax. The only other option is to ask the voters to pass another tax to pay for the courthouse projects.
Kennemore: I have been on the quorum court for the last 18 years. I helped navigate the county through some tough financial years. The county is a business and should be run like one. I have run a successful real estate, insurance and construction business for the last 30 years. I work well with others, and I listen to their ideas. I believe that I must offer solutions but do not believe that my way is the only way. I don’t pretend to know everything, but I do know that if I surround myself with the right people I can find the answer to any problem. I believe that if a person is in politics, he or she is a servant to the people and must answer to them. I will always be available to talk and to answer any questions that a citizen may have. I am not running for the title. I would prefer to just be called Ken. I am not running because I need the job. I am running because I want the job. Mississippi County has a bright future and we need someone with the energy and knowledge to keep moving it forward, and I am that man. I have lived here my entire life. My wife of 26 years is a principal at Gosnell Elementary and my son is at Gosnell Junior High. I have a daughter, Chandlor Sullivan, who lives in Blytheville and is a school nurse at Gosnell. My sister, Kelly Belew, and her family live in Manila, and my other sister, Kristy Latham, teaches in South Mississippi County School District. I have cousins in Joiner. This entire county is important to me and I will work hard to represent each and every one of you.
Nelson: I was born in Mississippi County, raised here and will die here. My passion runs deep for the people, the land, the cities and the communities. I have seen mistakes made here by elected officials and have learned from them, I pay much attention to the direction we are traveling by the decisions leaders have made and at times have questioned those decisions and witnessed the consequences. I spent sixteen years on the quorum court. Age has its advantages and at 59 years old I believe I have the background and knowledge to more effectively guide our county government into a future that is bright and successful. I want the chance to prove we can live in a better place. My passion, history, knowledge, and attention make me believe I am the best choice for the next county judge. Actions always speak louder than words, let me not tell you who I am, but allow me to show you.
Nelson: Fiscal responsibility and financial solvency will be my focus in managing Mississippi County government. The first thing I would do to improve Mississippi County Government will be to install a Purchase Order Processing System.
A purchase order is simply a number that a county employee gives a merchant (vendor) prior to purchasing an item on credit and charging that item to Mississippi County.
There are many ways in which this system can be implemented. Let’s say the Road Department runs over a piece of metal and ruins a tire. The tire needs to be replaced, so the employee calls the accounts payable clerk, informs them the need for a tire and the estimated cost of the tire and asks for a Purchase Order. The clerk then checks the balance in county general, the balance of the account to be debited in the road department budget, as well as the percentage spent to date in that account, and then approves the purchase.
The purchase order number can be made up of say fifteen digits. The first six are the date, 10282017.
The next digit is the number assigned to the agent approving the purchase, the clerk in charge of accounts payable is assigned the number one, and the next two numbers are the department number assigned to the road department, 32. The next three numbers are assigned to the employee requesting the purchase, 197. And finally the last three numbers are the purchase orders given this month to date, 001. This makes up the purchase order number to be 10282017132197001.
The Authorizing Agents may be the Account Payable Clerk, the County Judge, the Finance Chairman and the executive assistant.
The parameters set to approve the purchase may be if the county general account is above $800,000.00, and the department account to be debited has enough money left in that account’s budget to cover the purchase, and if the percentage of that account spent to date does not exceed the calendar date. If the purchase does not meet these guidelines, then the accounts payable clerk must contact an authorizing agent above them to override the expenditure request.
This is just one of many ways a system such as this can operate.
The advantage to installing a Purchase Order Processing System is the ability to see real time accounting data concerning the cash flow of County General.
Without a system such as this, the Quorum Court, the Finance Department and the County Judge will always be at least 30 days or more behind what is actually being spent. That can mean real trouble as the fiscal year moves closer to the end date.
It also controls spending. Let’s say the County General budget for the year is $25,000,000.00. This amount is not in County General but is expected to accumulate to that amount before the end of the fiscal year. For a county the size of ours the balance should never fall below $1,000,000.00, but when it does, the county could delay purchase order requests until our financial status improves.
Revenues are accumulated throughout the year by State Turn Back deposits, Tax Receipts, and many other credits that are accumulated at different times throughout the year. In most cases, it is best not to spend the money today, if you don’t have the money today. And that is what makes up secure financial solvency.
Inventory Control; Fixed Assets and Capital Equipment.
Our county purchases items every day throughout the year. Arkansas state law requires some of these purchases to be kept on file and audited, however, we are lacking in our record keeping and that lack of discipline encourages capital assets to be misplaced and disappear. We should not allow items that were purchased with government tax money to be taken home and never to be seen again or worse, sold.
The record keeping of capital assets should include a tracking number, the original Purchase Order number, description, department, location kept, Manufacturer, model number, serial number, original cost, and date purchased. These assets should be immediately tagged upon purchase and bar coded. In the event of vehicles, the mileage should be included. Any equipment containing a gasoline or diesel engine should have an hour meter reading that is recorded periodically.
Good accounting and financial management practices require that a government entity take the declining value of an asset into consideration. The cost expiration of a government entity’s assets should be taken into consideration if the cost of providing services to the citizens of Mississippi County is to be realistically reported. Also, the decline in the value of those assets must be considered if the county’s’ assets are to be stated correctly.
Most importantly, for this system to work properly and keep our assets on county property is to audit the assets on a regular basis. With a printed report in hand, someone should lay eyes on each asset and check it off on the report to insure its whereabouts annually.
These record keeping practices also aids in insurance claims. In the event of a loss, it is necessary to have an accurate record of the asset to ensure the coverage of the item lost.
Bridges;
We have a great number of bridges that are in need of repair, and while they are inspected regularly by state authorities, we will soon need to be rebuilding these structures, or face closing them down. Once a new bridge is constructed a dedicated maintenance fund should have its own Fund Code, name and balance in the General Ledger of the county treasurer. Anytime a capital asset such as a bridge or building is constructed, it must be maintained and without a dedicated fund to draw from we risk the availability of funding in the future and thus risk the asset itself.
Drainage;
We have a great need of improvements in our drainage system. The hot dry summer months are the time to prevent flooding in the fall and spring. We have to maintain the ditches and canals that were established over a hundred years ago, and be hard-working in digging and cleaning them out, keeping them free of trees, grass and debris. Flooding is inevitable here if we do not, and this must be done in a joint effort between the cities, county and drainage districts.
Roads;
I would like to implement a new method of maintaining our county road system by introducing fly ash as a sub-grade foundation to those areas where the soil type tends to swell and sink, especially the heavy clay soils. Fly ash is a byproduct from burning pulverized coal in electric power generating plants. During combustion, mineral impurities in the coal such as clay, feldspar, quartz and shale float out during the combustion process. Plum Point Power Plant located just south of Osceola is such a power plant and stock piles a great amount of this byproduct. I have been speaking with officials from the plant about the possibility of using this fly ash as a sub-grade or sub-base aggregate in repairing and restoring our county roads from the harsh outcome such as this past winter has made on them. Recently we have been purchasing a smaller grade of slag instead of the marble size we have used in the past. Currently we have applied a slag that contains a large amount of dusty-like particles that do not hold up well and does not last long. I would also move away from top dressing our roadways with slag and return to a natural stone aggregate whether it is washed river gravel, red clay gravel or limestone chat. Each individual area would require a different aggregate.
Maintenance;
Good maintenance habits and an effective repair system will minimize the amount of time equipment is unusable.
A central maintenance and repair record will help you to keep track of the maintenance and repair work done. Ideally, this system should correspond to the County’s equipment inventory (mentioned previously); this means that you will have maintenance and repair records for each of the items listed in the inventory. Vehicles and Equipment should be tagged with information such as, “Serviced on…”, “Next Service Date…..” and “Serviced by” in addition to the logged report filed away.
The preventive maintenance schedule for users can be accompanied by a weekly or monthly ‘tick sheet’ near the item of equipment, with a space for each day so that users can date and sign it, thereby showing that they have carried out the required tasks. This may include a space for users to indicate what parts were greased, tire pressure checked, inspected for loose bolts, oil checked etc…
The original purchase cost of a piece of equipment makes up only a part of the entire life cycle cost of the equipment. As a general rule, you should budget somewhere around three to six percent of the purchase cost per year for each piece to cover consumables, parts, maintenance etc…
Adopting practical and workable systems to manage County owned equipment, will help to get the most use out of the equipment the tax payers have purchased. With equipment, prevention is always better than repair.
In addition to the practical benefits of a central maintenance and repair system, it also provides Mississippi County’s Judge, the members of the Quorum Court and most importantly the tax payer with valuable information and proof that they are good stewards of the county’s equipment and can also be used to ask for more resources.
Health Insurance;
Health Insurance for Mississippi County employees continues to be a huge challenge for the Finance and Insurance Committees especially when budget time rolls around. As of the first of October 2017, it was estimated that the Health Insurance premiums for employees would go up an additional 15.7% which amounts to $125.00 per employee or $300,000.00 from County General.
This isn’t the first time we have had astronomical increases, rather the contrary, we most always have. It doesn’t matter if you are balancing a home budget or a small business, when you see an expenditure begin to repeatedly rise over and over, it’s time to do something to erode the increases. YOU would if it was YOUR money. But, sometimes government entities do not view it the same as their money and this is why nothing is done to stop it.
In this case there are positive steps to be made that may alleviate the worsening condition. I suggest that the Insurance Committee propose that each employee contribute half of the rise in premiums. In this case it would be half of the $125 or $62.50 for each employee multiplied by 200 employees for twelve months would total $150,000.00 and placed into a special fund.
Our county policy now provides annual physicals to the employees at no charge to the employee or the county. The policy provides that at no charge because the insurance company knows that the earlier health issues are discovered the less costs it will be in health care. So, give the incentive to the employee that if they partake in this provided coverage, they will be reimbursed at the end of the year for their contributions which would amount to $750.00 for each employee. Now that would be an encouragement to any employee for helping keep the cost of coverage down, and also keep them in better health. For those employees that refuse to participate, then that money will go to defray the increased costs of the premiums.
Landfill;
There is not enough space to lend itself here to address all the changes I would like to make at our county landfill. Landfills are difficult to manage in today’s world with the increasing number of regulations added each year and the expense. I refer to recent events such as the Baxter County, Arkansas Landfill and the mismanagement that occurred there. But we can manage the landfill at a profit. An addition of a leachate collection system should be constructed as soon as possible and would provide an easy onsite treatment solution to a continuing problem. There are currently post closure fees exceeding two million dollars, probably closer to three million, on our fields that have been closed, and this needs attention now. There are so many possibilities for making our land fill a more proficient more, environmental friendly and more cost efficient. Sevier Solid Waste in Sevier County, Tennessee leads the world in composting and recycling, minimizing the amount of refuse piled into our cells and the cost of operating our landfill. Farmers RECC, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the city of Glasglow, Kentucky (population 14,028) recently announced the successful completion and operation of the landfill-gas-to –electric power plant in 2016. The plant can generate up to 1 megawatt of electricity and distributes the power to its members. The possibilities go on and on. You just cannot keep doing the same thing year after year and be successful in today’s ever changing world.
Act IX Bond and PILOT agreements should be kept on file at the county court houses and referred to each budgeting process.
When I was a member of the quorum court we installed a program called “JSAP” to our budgeting process. This system is currently not used adequately in all departments of our county government. I will return to and improve that program. JSAP is a Human Resources tool designed to keep two workers that are doing identical work with the same job description from earning different pay. By using such a tool it helps the county avoid claims of discrimination, lowered morale and attrition. Basically it works like this; a third party Human Resource Management company is hired to collect a job description from each of the two hundred or so county employees. This job description is written by the department head the employee works in. The job description is then compared to other jobs within a hundred mile radius of our county in both the public and private sector. A median salary amount is then determined to fit the description and compared to the pay grade that our county is offering in each of those positions. If this salary is above or below the median then the finance committee works to move the amount closer to that number.. This program gives fairness to our employees and keeps favoritism out of our departments.
This is the year 2018, and Mississippi County needs to be working online. It is time to move forward. These are some, but not all services and information Mississippi County should have ONLINE.
Assess online, Pay Taxes online, Property Values, Public Records online, Accounting Budget & Expenditure Reports online, Circuit Clerk online, Courts, Land/Public Records online, Foreclosures, Jury duty online, Circuit Judges, Circuit, District, Juvenile, State, Drug Court, Collector, Tax Collection & Records online, County Clerk, Marriage Licenses, Voter/Election information online, Probate Court, County Judges Office, County Planning, Regulations & Inspections, Flood & Land use information, Division of Emergency Services, Election Commission, Sample Ballots, Commissioners, Poll Workers & Voting information, Map Printing, Interactive Maps all online, Missing Sign Form, Health Department, Justice of the Peace, Quorum Courts, County Court, Prosecuting Attorney, Road Department, Landfill, Justice Committees’ Reports, Federal Grants Audits, Finance Committee Reports online, Department Phone Numbers, Assessor Map Gallery, Interactive Parcel Map, GIS Links, Appraisal Department, House & Property Values, Homestead Registration, Tax/Millage Calculator online, Courts Information online, Court Docket Cases, Public Records, Deeds & Mortgages, Property Tax Records, Voter Registration, Marriage Licenses Information, Change of Address, Equalization Board, Veteran’s Services and Frequently Asked Questions. Take a look at co.benton.ar.us or Pulaskicounty.net.
In addition to Online services and information provided by a dot com web site we also need to be utilizing social media to communicate with our residents. Mississippi County Government needs Facebook.
Facebook could instantly deliver to you safety issues such as burn bans or flood bulletins in certain areas around the county, local weather alerts, damage concerns after a storm, roads or bridges out, school closures, courthouse closures, and special events like Veterans Day presentations or county wide pickup. A Facebook page for the county could advise you on certain issues that may not be available elsewhere. Not only is it real time, but comments and answers could be delivered and returned on the spot. Take a look at the Pulaski County Government page on Facebook.
However, Facebook cannot replace the need for a dedicated website. A county website would be necessary for paying taxes online, assessing online, down loading lengthy reports or maps, information on the courts, such as jury duty and times. Search Facebook for many of our Arkansas counties, you will see some that are active and informative and other who are not. Mississippi County needs an active working page.
We currently have a national movement to bring back our jobs, bring back our manufacturing, bring back our military, and Mississippi County needs to be on board to help make that happen here. There are so many things that could take place during the next four years that we need to take advantage of and promote. We don’t want to be left out. We want to be there and in the game. During the 1950’s our population was over 80,000 residents. Today we have lost almost half of that with the last census totaling just over 46,000. I want to change that trend. I want to raise the bar on our expectations for what our future will be. We have challenges ahead of us with limited resources, but we do have opportunities, and those opportunities need to be taken hold of. When we come together, we can make an impact on a large scale. We cannot afford to wait for things to turn around. We need to put into action ways to grow our county and be successful in spite of the current local economy. My pledge to you will be to make positive changes in our economy.
My pledge to you will be to bring us together. My pledge to you will be to make our communities a better place to live. Embracing these ideas implementing these changes and coming together to promote our area will help in the prosperity of all of us. I need your vote to bring these ideas to fruition. I don’t want to just ask you for your support, I want to earn it. God bless you and Mississippi County.
Kennemore: We have to stop trying to advocate for just Osceola, or Blytheville, or Manila, or Leachville, or Dyess… We have to start advocating for Mississippi County. I want to unite us. For example, I would like to form a committee with members from every community to look at ways to grow our tourism. The Johnny Cash home, Hampton Museum, two historical museums, the Greyhound Bus Station, the air force base, one of the largest cotton gins in the world, and Big Lake Wildlife Refuge are just a few examples of what we have to offer. If we could get some of the buses that come to tour the Johnny Cash home to see some of our other attractions, this would help improve our retail and service businesses.
I want to work with the other elected officials to bring Mississippi county into the 21st century. Technology has advanced to the point that most county services should be available to citizens online. This needs to be a priority.
I want to continue the work we have been doing to improve the county’s finances. We were able to give raises this year to the county employees, and I want that to be something we can do each and every year. This helps ensure better quality of life for those who work so hard for our communities.
I have been told that tire disposal is an issue for not only tire stores but for farmers.The landfill employees do a great job but they have no control over the tire disposal The landfill has one trailer for tire disposal. When a new trailer is delivered, it fills up in about an hour. I am working with an individual from Tennessee who said he should be set up in two weeks to take care of this issue.
We need to find ways to improve county roads. I think the road department and supervisor do a great job with the resources they have. I want to help find more options. As I said earlier, I don’t have all the answers but I can find someone who has the answers that I don’t. I have talked to a former road supervisor from another county and someone from Big River Steel who offered some suggestions. One suggestion is fly ash. This is a good material but comes with additional cost, so it is not a quick fix. The road supervisor gave some suggestions that might help, and I plan on talking to our road supervisor this week to get his thoughts. I am not going to promise that all the roads will be fixed in my first year, but I do promise that you will see them improve.
These are just some actions that I would take or have already taken to improve the county and its services. I love Mississippi County and I will work hard for the county and every citizen.