Extension Service building roof bids reviewed by supervisors

At its second regular business meeting of December, Franklin County’s Board of Supervisors voted on bids for the replacement of a flat roof over the local Mississippi State University Extension Service office on Walnut Street in Meadville.

The contract was ultimately awarded to Independent Roofing of Jackson, which turned in a low bid of $80,140 for the work.

Six other contractors submitted bids on the project to address the roof that has been leaking for several years — Rowell Roofing, $86,000; R & R, $86,040; Norman Enterprises, $96,000; M & S Roofing, $99,100; Mid-Western Commercial, $102,270; and E. Cornell Malone, $116,350.

“To put new gutters up there, it’ll be an additional $6,700 and anything over 10 percent of the square footage will be $5.50 per square foot,” District 2 Supervisor Henry “Eddie” Stebbins said during discussions regarding the scope of work.

“I think it’s a thousand square foot of deck they have to replace. If it’s under a thousand, they’re going to owe us.”

Board President and District 5 Supervisor Jimmie “Bodi” Bass said the contractor is fully bonded and will have 120 calendar days to complete the project.

The leaky roof had been discussed off and on over the past year with supervisors looking at alternatives such as going back with a flat roof or building a pitched roof — the latter of which was considered cost prohibitive.

No timetable was officially announced at Monday’s meeting as to exactly when the roof work would begin.

Also during Monday’s meeting of the supervisors:

• Chancery Clerk Jill Gilbert relayed a request from Guynell Brown of Brown Suga Plaza, located on U.S. Highway 84 in the Eddiceton community, about alcoholic beverages.

“She wants to add rum, vodka and gin, which she calls ‘light spirits,’ to her menu at Brown Suga Plaza,” Gilbert said.

“I told her she could not, according to the county’s (ordinance). She said the state has a new amendment that added that.”

Board attorney Bill Halford said the county’s ordinance regarding the sale of alcohol does not allow for drinks with that high of alcohol content to be sold within the county.

The panel denied permission for the business to serve the additional spirits.

• Heard a request from Franklin County resident Sherrod Scott to change the name of Rushing Road to Sand Hill Road or Sand Hill School Road, as it is currently not historically accurate.

“No Rushing family ever resided along the aforementioned road,” Scott said.

“The only family residences along that road were Magee, Havis, Sisco and Scott. The reason it was historically called Sand Hill Road was because of its location from Magee Creek sand valley northward across Round Top Hill Road, and down to McCall Creek sand valley with a metal cable swinging bridge over the creek for access into the town (of) Quentin.

“For many years, it was called Sand Hill School Road because of the community elementary school located on the north side of (the) Round Top Hill Road intersection.”

Bass said the county has a road which is named Sand Hill Cutoff Lane Southeast and he was concerned having two roads with “Sand Hill” in their name would cause confusion for first responders.

After further discussion, the group decided to begin the process of changing Rushing Road to Sand Hill Road, and Sand Hill Cutoff Lane Southeast to Ridgepoint Lane.

• Approved payment of $578.04 to Belinda Stewart Architects for services rendered for the design phase of the refurbishing of the courthouse, which will be funded through a grant from the state’s Department of Archives and History.