by Hunter Dawkins

In an unusual third meeting of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors at the County Courthouse in Gulfport Monday morning, an approval of purchases, claims payments, and an appraisal of land in West Harrison County off Highway 53 occurred.  District 2 Supervisor Angel Kibler-Middleton brought the land issue up towards the end, as it was not an agenda item and questioned the action taken on this property of 2.5 acres.

Harrison County Board of Supervisors President and District 3 Supervisor Dr. Marlin Ladner responded no action had been taken on the property in question, but claimed he knew this land was to create a new fire department.  After deliberating for a short time, the board unanimously approved.

Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson reported 787 inmates at the county adult detention center with 124 misdemeanors and 60 federal inmates.  District 4 Supervisor Kent Jones asked Sheriff Peterson about the activity in last week’s spring break on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Peterson said the numbers were down from last year, but there were a few minor arrests and tickets.

Following the Sheriff’s report, the board approved a sole source purchase of new body worn camera’s from Metrix Solutions and an installation of Rocket IoT communication kits in vehicles in the amount of $9424 total.  Both were derived from  the Federal Forfeiture Account.

In other actions, Coast Transit Authority was unanimously approved for a payment of claims of $50,042 from the third quarter subsidy of the 2019 Fiscal Year; $74,089.39 to Aramark Services for prison meals and $43,186.29 to Brown, Mitchell & Alexander for road work.

Additionally, $123,135.66 was unanimously approved acknowledging the check receipt from Harrison County Chancery Clerk John McAdams for excess fund from 2018 deposited into the general fund and $50,682.45  from Circuit Clerk Connie Ladner for the same reason.

The next meeting is scheduled at the Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport on Monday, May 6 at 9:30am.