Lowndes County supervisors approve $5 million road-plan bid awards, hire seasonal workers and set Reserve & Trust meeting

Trip Hairston, board president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors, convened the regular May 15 meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus.

The board approved a series of routine and project-specific actions by unanimous votes of the four members present (one supervisor was listed as absent). Most motions were recorded as passing 4-0. The meeting included approvals of financial and court reports, contract and procurement awards tied to a $5 million road plan, seasonal hiring for parks and roads, and administrative items including a grant application and a future Reserve & Trust meeting.

The most consequential procurement action was the approval of three bid awards related to the county's $5 million road plan. Carrie Stephenson, the county purchase clerk, presented bids and the board approved an Asphalt Overlay contract to APAC, a DBST contract to Pavement Restorations, and a Road Milling contract to Murphree Paving. Supervisor Jeff Smith moved the award to APAC and Supervisor Leroy Brooks moved the awards for DBST and milling; motions were seconded and passed 4-0.

The board also approved personnel actions raised by department heads. Jennifer Claybrook, parks director, requested six seasonal Recreation Department hires from June 1 through July 23, 2026 at $12.00 per hour; Supervisor Jeff Smith moved to approve the hires and Supervisor Leroy Brooks seconded. Tyrone Cunningham, road manager, requested six seasonal hires for the Road Department at the same $12/hour rate; Supervisor Brooks moved and Supervisor Matt Furnari seconded. Both hiring motions passed 4-0.

Administrative and fiscal items approved on the record included: spreading April 2026 financials and the county claims docket for the period ending May 15, 2026; entering Justice Court reports for April 2026 showing civil collections of $34,665.50 and criminal collections of $96,803.47; declaring specified items surplus (including a retiree service weapon); and authorizing a 2023 tax refund (PPIN 13718) in the amount of $734.41 to the Chancery Clerk because the parcel matured to the state and should not have gone to the 2023 land sale. Motions on these items were made and seconded as recorded and carried 4-0.

Other actions approved included: authorization for Caledonia Water & Sewer utility permits for service lines on Border Springs Road and Mayfield Road; submission of a Land & Water Conservation Fund grant application for a playground upgrade at Roger Short Complex; approval of a contract for collections for the justice court with Graphite Municipalities; and delegation to County Administrator Jay Fisher to submit the MASIT Board of Trustees election ballot.

During an executive session called to discuss a potential legal matter, a personnel matter and an economic development matter, the board authorized Board Attorney Tim Hudson to research the legal issue and to consider hiring co-counsel at county expense. The meeting was recessed to Monday, June 1, 2026, and the board set a Reserve & Trust meeting update for June 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows multiple motions carried unanimously by the four voting members present. Key recorded actions include agenda adoption (motion by Supervisor Leroy Brooks; second by Supervisor Jeff Smith; vote 4-0); approval of May 4, 2026 minutes (motion by Supervisor Jeff Smith; second by Supervisor Matt Furnari; vote 4-0); spread of Justice Court reports (motion by Supervisor Jeff Smith; second by Supervisor Matt Furnari; vote 4-0); award of road-plan bids to APAC, Pavement Restorations, and Murphree Paving (motions as recorded; votes 4-0); hire approvals for six seasonal parks employees and six seasonal road employees at $12.00/hour (motions by Supervisors Jeff Smith and Leroy Brooks; votes 4-0); and authorization for the county attorney to research legal options and consider co-counsel (motion recorded; vote 4-0).

The board signaled no final decisions requiring immediate public hearings beyond the motions recorded; several items were entered "on the minutes" or "spread on the minutes," indicating formal acceptance into the official record. The meeting record shows one supervisor listed as absent; the board moved and passed a motion to recess to June 1, 2026.