Budget time stress brings tension to county boardroom

By Rupert Howell
Attorney Gaines Baker entered Thursday’s county budget meeting with donuts and coffee and began the meeting with prayer, but that didn’t stop supervisors from speaking their minds—about each other’s actions and budget requests.
Earlier statements attributed to Supervisor Donald Phelps led Board President Cole Flint to say that he would, “Not be disrespected in this board room again,” and if it happened he would, “ask the sheriff to remove them from the room.”
Flint also offered to step down from the board president’s position if any of the supervisors thought they could do a better job with Phelps responding, “I think you are doing an excellent job.”
Phelps offered his hand with Flint reluctantly shaking with him over the board table at the end of the meeting.
Phelps mentioned earlier a comment made by Flint during the budget meetings that he considered disrespectful to employees and the conversation revealed that Flint is not only dealing with pressure of county budget woes, but also having to deal with other government entities for the county and is personally facing a lawsuit from former Panola Partnership CEO Sonny Simmons.
Flint recused himself from voting on Panola Partnership’s budget request due to the lawsuit and other supervisors voted 3-1 to approve the $200,000 request.
Supervisor John Thomas harshly criticized the budget request, stating it was all going for salaries and said, “By God they haven’t done s — since I’ve been here.”
Thomas softened his words later, stating, “If they would show us some results, I’d have no problem with it.”
During the budget session supervisors also agreed to cut out the Red Cross donation of $1,500 with harsh words coming toward the disaster relief organization.
Panola County administrator Kate Victor said a Red Cross office was located in the Justice Court Building in Sardis, but no one knew who worked there or who authorized its use.
The budget will be discussed in a public hearing September 14 prior to being finalized.
Supervisors also agreed to change Panola County’s health insurance third party carrier after recently learning they could save approximately $43,000 annually. Blue Cross/Blue Shield would still be the insurance carrier.
The board also agreed to look into the Mississippi Association of Supervisors policy on building insurance for potential savings.
Supervisors recessed until Monday, August 28 when they will meet in Batesville.