Pike County supervisors agreed Tuesday to see if American Rescue Plan Act funds can be used to hire two new sheriff’s deputies.
District 4 Supervisor Jake Gazzo said the funds may be available if the county can itemize financial losses from COVID-19, according to the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.
Sheriff James Brumfield had asked for two extra deputies, but supervisors said the money was not in the budget.
Gazzo suggested paying former county administrator and supervisor Chuck Lambert to itemize the losses.
County administrator Tami Dangerfield agreed that’s a good idea. “The lost revenue calculator is very time-consuming,” she said.
Supervisors voted 4-1 to contract with Lambert for the work. Supervisor Tazwell Bowsky opposed.
Meanwhile, board president Robert Accardo said supervisors will continue to look for other ways to qualify ARP funds. The plan is aimed at improving water and sewer infrastructure, which county supervisors are not involved in, with the exception of the county-owned Bogue Chitto Water Park.
In another matter, supervisors received a request to approve a plat for Quality Estates Subdivision on Hartwell Road in the northeast part of the county.
The subdivision consists of nine lots ranging from two to four acres.
Hartwell Road resident Mamie Kettle questioned the plan, saying the road is narrow and already has a number of new mobile homes. She suggested supervisors widen the road if they accept a subdivision plat.
Supervisors agreed to look at the road before deciding on the plat.
