By Billy Davis

Panola County supervisors said Monday they will honor a request from Tallahatchie County to loan it a paving machine.

Just not any time soon.

Panola County’s single road paving crew is still at work, taking advantage of the unseasonably dry weather to complete road projects before winter weather stops progress.

The road department employs roadwork crews in the north and south areas of Panola County but only one road paving crew moves among the county’s five districts.

The crew is in District 4 this week, where work is under way on Snider and Anthony roads.

Not surprisingly, District 4 Supervisor Kelly Morris suggested that the crew continue its work, with the machine remaining in Panola County.

 “Let’s make sure we get ours done first,” he said.

“Let them use it after our paving season is done,” agreed Supervisor Bubba Waldrup.

Other supervisors also agreed. A formal board vote will be spread on the minutes to loan the piece of equipment when work is completed in Panola County.

Morris, in recent months, has openly complained that road improvements were slow-moving in his district as well as in districts 3 and 5.

Other District 4 roads, Woodard, Baker and Crouch, have seen some road improvements in past days, according to the monthly report submitted by road manager Lygunnah Bean.

During the Monday board meeting, Bean informed supervisors that Tallahatchie County wants to borrow the paving machine for the county hospital’s parking lot.

A formal letter was faxed to the board, at Bean’s suggestion, and after Supervisor Gary Thompson stepped out of the board room to make a phone call to request it.  

The letter from Tallahatchie County Administrator Marvin Doss mentioned the parking lot as well as “several other roads in the county,”

Supervisors balked at the “other roads” request and voted to loan the equipment only for the hospital parking lot.

Chancery Clerk Jim Pitcock also suggested that the road department loan the Panola operator to ensure the machine is used properly.

“Speaking as a taxpayer, it’s really touchy to loan out equipment,” Pitcock said.

Panola County should be reimbursed for the operator’s time, the chancery clerk also said.

“I wouldn’t have sent it without him,” Bean replied.