Simpson County Fiscal Court approves new employee life policy, disaster consulting contract and backhoe purchase; sets housing groundbreaking

Simpson County Judge Executive Mason Bames and the Fiscal Court on Oct. 17 approved a series of routine but consequential administrative actions, including a new group life insurance vendor for county employees, a consulting contract for disaster recovery, and a public‑works equipment purchase. The court also set a housing authority groundbreaking for later that morning and received several community and project announcements.

The court voted to approve an agreement with One America to provide group life insurance for county employees after Anthem discontinued the county's group life plan. Magistrate Marty Chandler made the motion and Magistrate Myron Thurman seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The court authorized Judge Executive Mason Bames to sign related documents.

The court also accepted the only RFP received from EUDS Consulting for professional consulting services to manage emergency planning and recovery following a federally declared disaster. The approval, moved by Chandler and seconded by Scott Poston, included the court’s understanding that EUDS’s costs would be covered through FEMA reimbursement as a 5% management cost added to eligible disaster expenses when the Emergency Management Director notifies EUDS of the need for services.

On Public Works’ recommendation, the court approved purchase of a backhoe loader from McCoy Construction and Forestry for $89,000, allowing a $36,000 trade‑in credit for the 2011 John Deere backhoe. Magistrate Chandler moved the purchase; Magistrate Jeffrey Burr seconded. Delivery is expected in early February unless an in‑stock unit is located sooner.

Magistrate Chandler moved and the court approved appointment of Corey Konow to the Simpson County Water District Board to fill the unexpired term of Ray Mann, effective Oct. 20, 2023, through April 14, 2024. The minutes note that Ray Mann had served in that role for 43 years.

The Fiscal Court acknowledged the Simpson County Public Library District's 2023 tax rates — 5.8 cents for real property, 8.47 cents for personal property and 3.8 cents for motor vehicles and watercraft — and approved a cash transfer of $6,922.12 from the Federal Grant Fund to the General Fund. The court also approved several budget transfers and a lengthy list of bills, claims and payroll disbursements, and approved the Sept. 30, 2023 financial statement subject to audit and authorized signatures of Treasurer Nicole Law and Judge Executive Mason Bames.

Judge Bames announced a noon joint meeting with the Franklin City Commission the same day, and a 10:30 a.m. Housing Authority groundbreaking for affordable housing on the courthouse grounds. He also noted an Oct. 23 meeting with Spum Architecture PLLC to review plans for a new County Clerk's building, BooFest on Oct. 21 and a 4‑H Rib‑eye lunch on Oct. 27. Public Works Director Bobby Groves told the court that the Kenny Perry Bridge replacement project began the day of the meeting and would continue for several weeks.

The court approved the Oct. 10 special‑called meeting minutes (motion by Scott Poston; second by Jeffrey Burr); Poston, Burr, Marty Chandler and Judge Executive Mason Bames voted yes and Magistrate Myron Thurman abstained. The meeting adjourned at 8:59 a.m.

Votes at a glance: approve minutes (motion: Poston; second: Burr; yes: Poston, Burr, Chandler, Bames; abstain: Thurman); One America life insurance (motion: Chandler; second: Thurman; outcome: approved, yes‑all); accept EUDS RFP (motion: Chandler; second: Poston; outcome: approved, yes‑all); backhoe purchase (motion: Chandler; second: Burr; outcome: approved, yes‑all); appointment of Corey Konow (motion: Chandler; second: Burr; outcome: approved, yes‑all); cash transfer and budget adjustments (approved, yes‑all); bills/claims and Sept. 30 financial statement (approved, yes‑all).