Supes discuss projects for Washington D.C. congressional trip
On Tuesday, January 10, the Clay County Board of Supervisors met for a regular meeting. They discussed potential projects to take to Washington D.C. on their upcoming congressional trip in February. Robert Calvert, County Engineer, presented his ideas to the board about the roads most in need of repair in the county.
“They're going to want you to prioritize.
Just take three or four.
As expensive as roads are today, you couldn't go up there with every project we have and expect them to take action,” said
Calvert. “Every one of these is a good road, but I think if you go with our whole list, you won't get the same audience you'd get with a few priorities.”
The board considered a number of roads that need repair throughout the county. However, a few roads were recurring concerns for the supervisors. One of their main concerns was Lake Grove road, which was one of the first suggested by Calvert.
“We need to select some roads to take to Washington,” said Calvert. “If you're thinking in terms of traffic, I'd suggest Beasly. But we have plans finished for Lake Grove… The shoulder has dropped, and it has a steep bank, but we have enough right of way there to move the ditches out.”
Lake Grove Road was one of the major concerns of the Board of Supervisors, as the road is in need of repair, and runs through both Districts 3 and 4. Shelton Deanes, the supervisor for District 4, and R. B. Davis, the supervisor for District 3, both showed their support for the inclusion of this road on the board's list of priorities.
“If we're going to prioritize, let's go back to Lake Grove. It's been on the map, it's been on the agenda to get it fixed,” insisted Deanes. “We've been trying to get money to do our own roads, but let's do what's right. Let's do what's fair. If we're doing what's fair, it's that road for District 3 and District 4.”
The Board of Supervisors gave Lake Grove Road top priority by the end of their discussion. They also determined to prioritize North Beasly Road second on their list. North Beasly
Road runs through District 5, near Pheba.
“Beasly Road has three different schools on it. School buses drive on it. The county school, the city school, and Hebron Christian school buses all drive on it. Besides that, you have Mississippi State traffic driving back and forth on that road. We can't forget it,” said Chandler, Supervisor for District 5.
Near the end of their considerations, the Clay County Supervisors debated whether Barton Ferry or Tibbee Road should take the third spot on their list. Barton Ferry runs through District 1, and Tibbee Road runs through District 2. Both supervisors championed the needs of their roads, displaying that they are both important and in need of repair.
“Barton Ferry is a dangerous one and an expensive one. We'd have to get right of way, clear all of the trees, and get the road opened up so that the sun gets on it and the road gets to dry out during the winter,” said Calvert.
Barton Ferry was given the third spot on the list of priorities, and Tibbee was given the fourth spot. With the list of priorities determined, the Clay County Board of Supervisors will continue to prepare for their trip to Washington D. C. in the upcoming weeks. Supervisors Deanes, Chandler, and Davis will be accompanying the packet of potential projects to Washington in February.
During their Tuesday meeting, the Clay County Board of Supervisors also considered the appointment of an interim Election Commissioner for District 3, due to the untimely death of Hubert Caston. The Election Commissioners of Clay County brought two recommendations to the board. R. B. Davis, Supervisor for District 3, moved to select Vendel Edwards as the interim Election Commissioner for District 3 until a special election can be held to fill the position.
The Clay County Board of Supervisors also approved the setting of a special Election Date as Tuesday, November 7, 2023, to fill the position with an elected commissioner.