The board of supervisors approved a request to authorize the Economic Development board to pay for the USA Fabric project bill in the amount of $47,650 to Bell Demolition and Environmental to be paid in monthly increments according to the contract.
Bell Demolition and Environment of Delta City, Mississippi was awarded the bid to demolish and clear the property of USA Fabrics, formerly Quitman Knitting Mills.
The Quitman Knitting Mill building was built in 1946 and was originally Quitman Hosiery Mills. It later merged with Julius Kayser Company and then again with Chester H. Roth Company to form Kayser – Roth Corporation. The mill shut down in 1958 but reopened in 1959 as an apparel plant. It grew from 90 employees in 1959 to over 900 employees. It was later purchased by Nazareth Century Mill in 1987 where it remained in operation until it closed its doors in 1994. Quitman Knitting Mills reopened until it started scaling down operations due to NAFTA and closed permanently in 2002. It was later operated as USA Fabrics until that company closed its doors.
The start date on the demolition project is estimated to begin around December 28th with a 160 working days to complete the demolition and clear all debris from the slab.
In other business, the board went into executive session to discuss a litigation issue against the county. No action was taken regarding the litigation nor discussion as to the reason for litagation. Board attorney Greg Snowden advised the supervisors not to discuss the issue while in litagation.
• approved lifting the burn ban
• approved a contract with MS. Ortho Flight Aerial Photography for $22,184 for the aerial photography of the county for mapping purposes. After the project is complete, which includes 19 counties across the state, Mississippi Department of Transportation will distribute a onetime $10,000 reimbursement. According to Tax Collector Hope Herrington, the new photography, which has to be done every 12 years, is cost effective through the state plan because it allows other counties to participate as well at a reduced cost to each county.
• approved a motion to reject a bid previously accepted by the board for Precision Communications for the outdoor warning siren. Emergency Management Director Eddie Ivy recommended the bid be rejected because the wording in the bid was not very clear. The board approved to advertise again for the outdoor warning sirens.
Other action taken during November included:
• approved the bid from J.A. Terral Insurance/Traveler for the yearly county insurance at a cost of $205,888.
• approved the hiring of Patricia Howze as the assistant receiving clerk for Nicole Haddox
The board meets the first and third Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the board room located in the courthouse annex. All meetings are open to the public.
