By Billy Davis

Board of Supervisors attorney Bill McKenzie reminded supervisors Monday that four county positions — road manager, county engineer, county administrator and board attorney — will be chosen at the first board meeting in January.

The board will also choose its president and vice president, he said.

McKenzie listed his job first among the appointments, stating that he would help train a new attorney if supervisors appoint a “younger person” as board attorney.

“If you want me to stay I’ll consider that,” he added.

The Panola County Board of Supervisors will include two new faces next month, when John Thomas and Cole Flint take their seats for Districts 3 and 5 respectively.

Board President Gary Thompson lost to Thomas in the August primary, which immediately kicked off speculation over who will fill the soon-to-be-empty spot in January.

District 1 Supervisor James Birge currently serves as vice president, and Vernice Avant and Kelly Morris are also returning incumbents.  

January election of the board president and vice president will be the first order of county business. Then the board will entertain motions and vote for the four positions — board attorney, county administrator, county engineer and road manager.

Board attorney   

In the county boardroom, McKenzie stands out as the longest-serving public servant in Panola County government.

McKenzie told a reporter Monday he was 33 years old in 1984 when he was selected to serve as board attorney. He turned 60 in June.

“I came in with Supervisor David Ross Craig,” he recalled.

McKenzie operates a private practice near the courthouse. He also presides over Batesville Municipal Court as judge. 

Larry Britt, of Oxford engineering firm Elliot and Britt, has served as county engineer since 2005.

Supervisors chose Elliot and Britt from eight applicants in a surprise move that skipped an expected interview process.

Supervisors had agreed to spend time reviewing applications, then interview applicants, when late Supervisor Robert Avant announced he wanted to hire Elliot and Britt. The board voted 4-1 to do so with former Supervisor Jerry Perkins solely opposing the unexpected move.

Elliot and Britt followed through on a promise to maintain an office in Batesville if it was hired.

Panola County road manager Lygunnah Bean has served as road manager since he was hired in 2003.

Bean came from Batesville American, where he served as plant manager before the factory closed its doors.

As road manager Bean has touted his efforts to safeguard taxpayers’ money, improve workplace safety and modernize the department.  

Bean also serves as president of the South Panola School Board of Trustees.

Panola County supervisors hired Batesville resident Kelley Magee as county administrator in 2008.

Magee was serving as deputy comptroller for Lafayette County government when she replaced retiring County Administrator David Chandler.

Supervisors have publicly credited Magee for pulling county finances out of the red and into the black.

With the blessing of the Board of Supervisors, Magee went on a search for cost-cutting measures throughout county government to improve finances. But she made enemies in some county offices, most notably within the Sheriff’s Department for attempting to trim the use of cellular phones, automobiles and other expenditures.