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Supervisor tables claim over culvert damage after emergency response; road department to inspect
Summary
Resident Paul Sechner said emergency vehicles responding to a neighbor's call on March 28 collapsed a driveway culvert on private property that connects to County Farm Road. The board authorized the road department to inspect and tabled the claim pending investigation into whether county reckless‑disregard liability applies.
HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. — A resident told the Board of Supervisors on May 5 that two fire trucks and an ambulance responding to an emergency on March 28 collapsed a culvert on his driveway, and asked the county to repair the damage. The board agreed to have the road department inspect the site and tabled the claim pending investigation.
Paul Sechner said emergency vehicles left the neighbor's property and, on exiting, one fire truck appeared to cross a concrete shoring area and "collapse the culvert." He showed photos and said a contractor's estimate he saw was about $4,000. County staff explained that claims against the county for fire protection are subject to the state's Tort Claims framework and that payment generally requires a showing of "reckless disregard," meaning conduct roughly approaching gross negligence.
Discussion and board direction County legal and staff said they did not immediately see liability meeting the reckless‑disregard standard but acknowledged that facts could change with further review. The board authorized the road department to inspect the site to determine if it could perform repairs and tabled the claim to gather additional information. A motion to table the claim until staff could investigate passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the board emphasized the county's legal limits under state tort claims law while also acknowledging public concern about road access and property damage resulting from emergency responses.
Ending Staff will inspect the culvert, provide a report on possible repairs, and return to the board to consider whether a settlement or other action is appropriate.
