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Senior Writer
Supervisors approved the purchase of five new pickup trucks for use by the county.
At the May 4 meeting, 3rd District supervisor Bruce West said his road foreman is driving a 1998 truck that has 300,000 miles on it. He wanted to get trucks out there to "folks who need it, who are out there cutting trees at 11 at night."
County road manager Sonny Clay said four or five new trucks had been put into the budget for this fiscal year. Chancery clerk Ronnie Boozer checked and said $120,000 had been set aside for trucks. The board approved the purchase of five trucks.
After a discussion of the Monroe County Airport and what that board's role should be, Randle Gray nominated a couple of people to serve on that board. Gray, president of the county board of supervisors asked to appoint Jimmy Vaughn as the member for his district, 1st, and Dr. Seay as the city of Amory's member. Only two people were on the seven-member airport board before approval of his two appointees. District 2 supervisor Billy Kirkpatrick brought up the airport for discussion.
Gray said some airport board members had chosen to quit and not all board members had been told of meeting times, "for whatever reason."
"We have a good airport and it's growing," he said. "I certainly don't want to get involved in running the day-to-day operations of the airport."
Gray said he would like to see the airport manager report to the board on a quarterly basis. Boozer said as far as the money is concerned, the manager could post daily deposits, then settle with the county on a monthly basis.
"I think that is ultimately what the auditor would like to have," Boozer said. The airport's income basically comes from fuel sales and hangar rent.
Clay said the airport is very efficient, is used greatly and things are running smoothly, but board members have resigned and the supervisors have to decide if they are "going to put more on or redirect the way things operate."
In other business:
n Boozer said his office has received applications for the summer youth jobs program through Three Rivers. The program is for ages 14-24 and the deadline to apply is May 15.
n The board approved a resolution asking for money to be returned to this district through Three Rivers. Boozer said counties send money every month to the state to be used for maintaining their imaging systems, and they are asking for an amendment to a House Bill, which would allow them to get those funds returned.