Local assistance, a fairground blunder and dead trees were some issues tackled in a Monday morning meeting of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors.

Rosalyn Woods, case manager for Pearl River Valley Opportunity, presented her report to the board on the amount of aid the organization has provided to county residents. The organization has a number of assistance programs such as medical assistance, revolving loan programs and utility assistance, District I Supervisor Anthony Hales said.

According to the reports Woods provided to the board, the organization has provided a total of $733,020.78 in utility assistance to residents. Hales said the funding for the program comes from government grants.

The work the office does ensures that senior citizens and other county residents in need get the necessary assistance to help keep them warm and comfortable.

“I cant go to bed when their gas is off, I got a conscience,” Woods said. “That’s what we’re here for, to serve the people.”

Woods then asked the board about relocating the PRVO office. The board approved for her to working out details with County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin about possibly moving to the gym at Church of the Way, which houses most of the offices that had been in Chimney Square.

Some local distribution of supplies to needy families has been provided by a county resident who has donated her time and money to help those less fortunate. Jean Giddens said she has paid about $500 out of her own pocket to help provide needy people with the supplies they need. She addressed the board about finding some funding so she can continue her work of servicing about 125 families a week. Emergency Operations Director Bobby Strahan said he could check with Federal Emergency Management Agency about helping her with some funding. The board approved Strahan to check into it.

Les Dungan with Dungan Engineering told the board that the bleachers for the fairgrounds ordered by the contractor hired to do the work were too big and jut out from under the fairgrounds roof. To fix the problem Dungan suggests that the county extend the roof and add a gutter system and perhaps some siding to the area around the bleachers. Dungan projected the project would cost about $14,800 to do the roof extension and the gutter system. The bleachers have already been installed complete with hurricane anchors and bolts to the columns, Dungan said.

The board approved the change order to the fairgrounds contract to extend roof line and add siding behind the bleachers.

The FEMA-funded map modernization project is nearing completion with tentative maps to soon be submitted for public comment, said Planning and Development Director Harold Holmes. The next step will be the public comment period where the public can view the maps and address concerns, Holmes said.

Hales suggested that the board look into utilizing a public-access channel to advertise to more people concerning this and future public comment periods. The board approved asking a county employee to look into the proposal.

A Mississippi Emergency Management Agency application for funding the removal of dead trees in the county was denied, but Strahan suggested the board appeal MEMA’s decision. Strahan said there have been incidents in the county where falling trees have posed life threatening hazards to motorists and there are some trees that pose threats to homes. The board approved Strahan to submit documentation of the need and reapply for the MEMA assistance.

The board went into executive session for personnel matters and a pending litigation matter. When they came out they approved personnel changes in the Road Department but no action was taken on the pending litigation matter, District IV Supervisor Robert Thigpen said.

In other business the board;

— Acknowledged correspondence from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources concerning a Coastal Impact Assistance Program that will provide $400,000 for land acquisition along Hobolochitto Creek for a water park with swimming and trails, Thigpen said.

— Approved Picayune school district request for county to do work on paving with asphalt purchased by city.

— Authorized board president’s signature on an application for waste tire site at south Tie-up on Palestine Road.

— Acknowledged a jury commissioner appointment of James L. Schrock.

— Acknowledged Pearl River Central School District’s audited financial statements for year ended June 30, 2005.

— Acknowledged grand jury report for August 2006 term.

— Accepted a state tax commission order approving tax rolls and a final board order from supervisors approving tax rolls.

— Approved accepting a grant from History and Archives for $13,400 with match of $3,350 for interior architectural work for the courthouse.

— Approved execution of contract with Richard Price Contracting for Emergency Watershed Protection sites on Gogo Road and McNeill Steep Hollow Road.

The next meeting of the board will be 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at the Poplarville courthouse.