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Holmes County approves Westville land-use change, authorizes New Hope EMS staffing and seeks answers on Busy Bee repayment
Summary
The Holmes County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to reclassify two Westville parcels for a proposed USDA-funded emergency services building, authorized two full-time EMT positions at New Hope EMS, approved several routine contracts, and voted to send a representative to press the development commission for answers on the delayed Busy Bee closing and accruing interest.
The Holmes County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 24-5 on a final hearing to change the future land-use designation of two parcels in Westville from low-density residential to public/semi-public/educational, clearing the way for a proposed multiuse emergency services facility that the county says is seeking a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The presenter for the item summarized the proposal and recommended approval, saying the Westville Town Council and the county planning commission had each recommended the amendment. "This is the final hearing for land use amendment 2405," the presenter said, and commissioners voted to adopt the ordinance.
The vote was the most significant action of the morning, but the board also approved several other items: staff recommended awarding an engineering and design contract to CGI Services after receiving a single responsive bid; the board approved renewal of a standard agreement with the regional planning council; and the board approved payment of an emergency-management invoice to Wheeler Emergency Management Consultants with the expectation the expense will be reimbursed through disaster-related claims.
In public-safety business, New Hope EMS asked the board to re-create two full-time EMT positions that had been left off the budget during earlier cuts. The EMS representative said the positions are budgeted with benefits and would help establish a future 24-hour ambulance at the New Hope station. After discussion about overtime and how the cost was embedded in the salary line, commissioners approved the staffing request.
A recurring topic drew extended discussion: repayment tied to a development known as Busy Bee. One commissioner said the county's agreement anticipated repayment to the county coffers after development and voiced frustration that closing had not occurred. "We're paying $833 a day on interest because no one has finalized this," the commissioner said, pressing staff for clarity. Commissioners moved and approved sending County Administrator David to a development commission meeting to seek a firm timeline and answers about the closing and outstanding obligations.
The board also authorized up to $10,000 to begin cleanup work on a site where timber funds would help cover excavation and debris removal, directing staff to obtain quotes consistent with county purchasing rules.
Most votes were unanimous and procedural. Several residents and community representatives spoke during public comment, including praise for local coordinators and a request to explore historic-preservation funding or possible relocation for the deteriorating Westfield post office structure, which sits on private land and may limit grant options.
Next steps noted by county staff include finalizing supplemental agreements for county road projects funded by the state, scheduling preconstruction for County Road 181 after contractor bonds arrive, and following up on the development-commission questions about Busy Bee. The board did not set a public deadline for the Busy Bee repayment but asked staff to report back after the development-commission meeting.
