The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors opened bids for the J.J. Holcomb Road bridge replacement and for the striping and signing of 16.8 miles of road at Wednesday morning’s meeting.

The board received bids from Jet Construction Inc. for $224,106.16, Magco Inc. for $247,640.88 and Pearl River Paving Co. LLC for $227.259.12. Les Dungan, county engineer, estimated the project would cost $241,418.04. The board accepted Jet Construction Inc.’s bid, which was the lowest bid received.

The striping and signing is part of resealing project being funded by the state. The state will provide the full amount of funds for the project, Dungan said. The board received bids from Lane Line LLC for $85,036.49, J.L. McCool Contractors Inc. for $92,022.50, Robbie Robinson Inc. for $95,985.83 and Traffic Control Products Inc. for $101,160.94. Dungan estimated the stripping and sign would cost $106,526.01.

The board took the bids under advisement until the next regular meeting.

J. Patrick Lee, board president, said he received a notice stating someone had filed a complaint against him, claiming he misappropriated election support funds. It was determined by the State Auditor that the use of the election support funds was lawful.  

Every year an audit is conducted of how the money is used, but if a complaint is lodged, a separate audit will be conducted to determine the validity of the complaint, Lee said.

Dungan asked for a check to be issued to Nicholson Water and Sewer for relocating a water line near J.J. Holcomb Road bridge so the county could replace a bridge. Dungan also reported to the board about the 2014 Bridge Inspection Program. The county is granted funds from the state to inspect county bridges. The deadline to complete the 2014 inspections is September.

The board received a grant of $22,214 from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to collect hazardous materials around the county. The work will not take place until daytime temperatures start to cool because the workers are required to wear special suits to protect them from hazardous materials, said Adrain Lumpkin, county administrator. Lumpkin reported the project usually costs between $30,000 and $40,000. The money to cover the rest of the cleanup expenses will come from another grant the county has received.

HUB International, the insurance brokers for the board of supervisors, presented the changes that will take place when the new health care reforms goes into effect. Liz Raymond Thomas, senior vice president, and Sibyl Bogardus, chief compliance officer, broke down the changes for employers with 50 or more employees for the board.

Lumpkin gave a presentation on how the budget process works and where taxes for each area of the county go to each year.

Also at the meeting, the board:

— Recognized Chase Graves, 14, for winning first place in the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Gallup, N.M. for team roping with an average of 31.536 seconds for roping three head of cattle.

— Approved the pay adjustment of two foreman and the temporary hiring to fill a position for the road department.

— Opened public inspection on the tax rolls.

— Approved the Chancery Court order of appointments.

— Approved the lease 3.27 acres for $8,029.50 by the Pearl River County School District. The lease also will need to be approved by the Pearl River County School Board and the Mississippi Secretary of State, Lee said.

— Accepted the claims docket.

— Approved for four emergency dispatchers to travel to Pascagoula on Aug. 15-16 for training.

The board adjourned until its next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 9 a.m.