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Board Approves $1 Hourly Raise for Engineer's Assistant; Supervisors Discuss Bridges and Capital Priorities
Summary
Supervisors approved a $1-per-hour raise for Benjamin Smith, assistant to the engineer, effective Jan. 22. The board also received updates on bridge grant applications, rising equipment costs due to tariffs, and discussed holding a capital-project workshop ahead of budget deadlines.
The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a $1-per-hour pay increase for Benjamin Smith, assistant to the engineer, effective Jan. 22, citing performance and required certifications. The motion passed 4-0 with one supervisor absent.
During department updates, county engineering staff reported multiple bridge projects and an application submitted for State Bridge Construction Fund monies; staff emphasized the competitive, point-based nature of that program and said the county submitted one application for a bridge nearing the end of its service life. The engineer also asked whether supervisors had appetite to increase infrastructure-fund contributions to cover steel and rock costs for two county-built bridges.
Staff reported cost pressure on equipment procurement: a sign-truck vendor notified the county of an $8,723.52 increase tied to U.S. tariffs on Canadian products, raising the previously quoted price. The engineer said the county has buffer room in its equipment budget but may need to revise FY27 equipment assumptions and will return with updated budget figures.
Supervisors discussed scheduling and process for capital projects and building maintenance, suggesting a focused workshop to list and prioritize medium- and long-term projects such as courthouse repairs, heritage-center renovations and accessibility work. They noted the budget work sessions and the March 5 deadline for general supplemental items.
The board directed staff to continue budget preparation, bring revised figures as needed and return to the board with further details during upcoming work sessions.
