The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors met with a representative from the Southern District Public Service Commissioner’s office during its regular meeting on Monday.
Government and Community Affairs representative Jade Ferguson introduced herself to the Board and clarified the role of the Public Service Commission.
In regard to complaints about water associations, Ferguson said the PSC helps address customer service issues in rural areas, but not municipalities.
Board President Sandy Kane Smith said he received several complaints about some customers being overcharged for water service.
Board Vice President Hudson Holliday said there was an instance where a rural water association customer complained that a leak was not found for some time due to a failure to read the meter properly.
Ferguson said she would help address the issue.
Smith also asked Ferguson if her office handles complaints with Internet companies. She said the Public Service Commission cannot control rates, but does handle customer service issues.
In other news, the Board approved the purchase of a 2011 Crown Victoria from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Department with 80,000 miles.
The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department recently bought three 2008 Crown Victorias from the same department, in addition to eight new Ford Interceptors, according to previous coverage.
County Engineer Les Dungan advised the Board of an upcoming Mississippi Association of Supervisors and County Engineers meeting on Dec. 8 in Hattiesburg.
Dungan said the meeting would provide an opportunity to “demonstrate the need the county has for funding to maintain roads and bridges.”
He also said he would encourage local state legislators to attend, saying it would be a “game changer for the maintenance of roads.”
Dungan requested approval to purchase right of way from nine landowners on Progress Silver Run Road at a cost of about $7,500 total.
Widening the existing easement is required to make room for guardrails as part of a federal project to replace two bridges on that road, Dungan said.
Dungan also requested approval to acknowledge receipt of bids and award contractors for two separate projects under the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
The Board awarded contracts to TCB Construction for a three-site project at a cost of about $91,000, while a contract for a four-site project was awarded to Pearl River Paving for $159,316.
The Board approved the contracts pending confirmation that NRCS will provide the maximum cost-share in order to limit the county’s match to about $55,000.
The Board also approved bus turnaround additions for the Picayune and Poplarville school districts.
The next Board meeting will be held Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. in the Boardroom.