Published: October 21, 2009 04:17 pm      

1 Oktibbeha supervisor wants to revert to beat system

STARKVILLE — One of Oktibbeha County’s five supervisors says he wants to return to the beat system of government that the county abandoned a generation ago.

Orlando Trainer says the change would give him and his four colleagues more control over road maintenance in their individual districts.

Another of the supervisors, John Young, says county government operates more efficiently under the unit system, which Oktibbeha County has had since 1987.

Under the unit system, Oktibbeha County gives each supervisor’s district an equal number of miles to be paved in a four-year road plan.

Supervisors could not decide to switch back to the beat system. A majority of voters would have to approve a change in the structure of government.