Tunica County supervisors voted Aug. 4 to approve the fourth payment to JCI for the county’s energy-efficiency upgrade project and asked county staff for clearer verification that invoiced equipment and work have been delivered and meet contract standards.

Why it matters: The project involves large equipment purchases and multi-million-dollar payments; supervisors sought assurance that the county is receiving contracted deliverables and that an independent review or project-management oversight is active.

County staff reported that the contractor has ordered most equipment and that major HVAC units are being held by an installer (TriStar/ Tri State). Staff said weekly and phase reports were being provided and that county maintenance and an independent project manager meet with the contractor on Mondays to review progress and punch-list items. Supervisors asked who is auditing deliveries and installations; county staff said they receive weekly reports and maintain on-site meetings with maintenance and JCI.

The payment amount as read at the meeting was given in two figures in the transcript (the record reads "payment number 4 to JCI... in the amount of $940,000 and $909,140,939 dollars"); the board approved the payment as presented. Supervisors also discussed outstanding site repairs (for example, control boxes or other facility items not included in the original contract) that must be addressed before additional hardware can be installed at some sites, including the arena and River Park.

The motion to approve Payment No. 4 carried. Staff said they will continue weekly on-site meetings and provide project reports to the board; the transcript records no specific written acceptance procedure added at the meeting beyond existing weekly reports and the presence of a project manager.