By Rupert Howell
County employees will have an opportunity to join Mississippi Federal Credit Union following the second visit of that company’s director of member development, Jeff Kilgore, during Monday’s First Judicial District meeting in Sardis.

The union allows members to save, write checks, acquire loans and other member services much like a bank.

Although District One supervisor James Birge and Road Manager Lygunnah Bean voiced favor for having participating employees use direct deposit from their paychecks, the board agreed to proceed with offering the service to county employees where individual employees would be responsible for their own deposits.

County Administrator Kelley Magee and Chancery Clerk Jim Pitcock, both of whose offices deal with the financial side of county government, spoke against direct deposit with both officials favoring self pay over payroll deduction.

Kilgore told supervisors that Panola County, “ . . . is one of the most underserved areas,” for credit unions.

He said Mississippi Federal was the largest credit union in the state naming Batesville, Oxford, Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi as clients.

In other county business, Road Manager Bean received permission to maintain several new school bus turnarounds noting that North Panola had submitted theirs but it had just recently come to him. He noted some were added and some were taken off. Although the board approved the requests, District Five Supervisor Cole Flint voiced his continued displeasure in the number of requests by voting ‘nay.’

Bean also received authorization to assist the Town of Crenshaw with placing rip-rap rock along that town’s lagoon levy.

The Road manager also received approval to replace four culverts on Landfill Road and a discussion was held concerning abandoning a portion of Compress Road east where it is gravel and dead ends.

County Administrator Magee received permission to advertise for a new front load garbage truck, reimbursements for several grants and approval for travel for her to travel to with Deputy Chancery Clerk Malia Brewer to Tupelo for a meeting on the Affordable Care Act.

Attorney Bill McKenzie reminded board members of several appointments that needed to be made in December including positions on North Panola Water Bd., Sardis Housing Authority and Airport Board.

Ernistine Carter was reappointed to the North Panola Water Board at the request of District One Supervisor Birge.

McKenzie also reminded supervisors of a required annual jail inspection that needed to be scheduled.