The Rankin County Board of Supervisors approved several road and bridge expenditures and authorized equipment procurements at its Jan. 15 meeting.

Road staff recommended and the board approved a final payment of $923,297.32 under purchase order no. 251238 to Hemphill Construction for the High Bush Road bridge replacement and authority to issue the check. The board also approved the final payment of $138,573.75 to Hemphill Construction Company for an emergency repair to the Bill Hubbard Road bridge, work that had been declared an emergency on Nov. 14, 2025.

Mike Harrison, road manager, and Mr. Kent asked the board for authority to advertise bids for replacement equipment. The board authorized solicitation for a track-crawler tractor (described in the meeting as a medium-size, track-type tractor/bulldozer) and for a hydraulic excavator, both identified as budgeted replacements.

On contracting, staff presented certified bids for Gunner Road Phase 3 and recommended award to the low bidder, Thornton Construction Company, at $877,945. Staff noted the low bid was approximately $300,000 below an engineer's estimate of roughly $1.2 million.

All actions were approved by voice vote after motions and seconds were recorded. The approved payments and the contract award will proceed to check issuance and contract execution as the administrative process permits.

The board also approved routine minutes and the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.