Pike County supervisors echoed public concerns Friday when they lamented the projected closure of Kroger grocery store and the adjacent CVS pharmacy in McComb.
Company spokesmen said the stores, whose leases are set to expire, will close by the end of January.
Supervisor Sam Hall said the news is alarming.
“A lot of people love Kroger,” he said.
Board president Robert Accardo agreed but said there’s little supervisors can do about it.
“I share your concern about that, but I don’t know what we can do sitting around this table,” he said.
He questioned whether supervisors or city selectmen could have done anything to influence the corporate decision and said he didn’t know about it until it became public.
The Rev. Gary Brumfield, a regular visitor at board meetings, suggested county and city officials establish a better working relationship in trying to bring in new jobs.
Accardo said the Pike County Economic Development District fills that role, with representatives from the county and towns on its board.
“We actually do have a working relationship with the city,” Accardo said.
Hall said he’s planning to convene a meeting of town and county officials sometime in the first part of 2022, to “just brainstorm and establish that relationship.”
Magnolia businesswoman Mercedes Ricks said citizens don’t do enough to support local businesses.
“When you have Walmart, it’s very hard to compete,” said Ricks, who owns La Mariposa Restaurant. “We as citizens of this area do not support local.
“I think that’s why a lot of businesses are falling apart,” Ricks said. “The leaders of Magnolia do not support my business.”
In other action, supervisors:
• Approved payments of $58,377 to Land Company Development for Hurricane Ida debris pickup and $24,126 to DebrisTech for monitoring services. The work was expected to be through by today, but Accardo said it may take until mid-January due to illness among employees.
• Noted the hiring of Jhameilla Anderson and Tiffany Belton with the tax collector’s office and the termination of Marcus A. Brooks from the sheriff’s office.
• Agreed to let the city of Magnolia use the county multipurpose complex Feb. 25 at no charge for a Mardi Gras ball fundraiser for the town recreation department.
• Agreed to install a three-way stop sign at Love Creek and Fortenberry Drive due to a new chicken farm there which will increase truck traffic. At Supervisor Tazwell Bowsky’s request, road superintendent Wendell Alexander said he will look into the feasibility of installing a four-way stop at Highway 48 and Pike 93 Central east of Magnolia. Supervisor Lee Fortenberry also suggested one at Locust Street and Highway 98 East.
• Learned that Sheriff James Brumfield has appointed David Cullom as the new county fire investigator.
• Heard comments from Accardo, whose term as board president ends today. The board rotates officers annually, and Jake Gazzo will be president in 2022. “It has been a high honor and a pleasure to serve this board and this county in this capacity,” said Accardo, thanking fellow supervisors and other officials for their support.
• Heard a request from Rev. Brumfield to clear off pinestraw from the sides of LaBlanc Road. Alexander said the county road crew will take care of it.
• Learned that the Stennis Institute of Government has prepared an initial draft of a redistricting map.
