The biggest topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting was the application for a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant.

The CDBG grant would fund renovation work to bring the county courthouse in Poplarville compliant up to American Disability Act standards, said Grant Administrator Jason Hicks with Samples, Hicks and Associates. The requirement to have the county courthouse meet ADA requirements stems from a 2010 lawsuit, which states the courthouse is currently not compliant, Hicks said.

Hicks said, the grant would require the county provide a $600,000 match if the county received the grant.

If the application is approved, the architect for the project would draw up plans for the building. Those plans would then be sent to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the U.S. Department of Justice for approval. The Department of Archives and History will determine if the plans allow the building to keep it’s historical integrity and the Department of Justice would approve if the plans were ADA compliant, Hicks said.

“So $1.2 million for wheelchair ramps and to change out door knobs,” said one audience member.

County Administrator Adrian Lumpkin said, “It’s more extensive than that.”

The board unanimously approved the application and a resolution that states the county would pay the $600,000 match if the application were approved.

At the close of the meeting, Pearl River County resident, Jeff Smith asked the board about a piece of road department equipment that was unmarked and left on private property for the last five years.

Lee said the board was unaware of the issue until it was brought to their attention. Lumpkin said the equipment was on the county inventory list and had been assigned an inventory number, but wasn’t marked properly.

Lee said the day the issue was brought to their attention, current Road Department Manager Dale Miller picked up the equipment and had it properly marked.

Lee said this was something that happened five years ago before Miller was appointed road department manager.

The board also approved a Circuit Court order to increase the county public defender salary from $40,000 to $55,000. Board President J. Patrick Lee specified the increase was a court order and not a board decision.

Also at the meeting, the board:

— Authorized the Sheriff’s Department to find and purchase a truck for the litter department with a purchase limit of $10,000.

— Approved requests to repair potholes at Poplarville School District schools, Northeast Volunteer Fire Department and the county rodeo arena.

— Acknowledged the receipt of an insurance check for $1,548 for repairs to a 2013 loader.

— Approved BankCorp South $160,000 financing for a AS 400 computer system.

The board adjourned until Monday, May 5 at 9 a.m.