Stone County Board of Supervisors Recap | August 17, 2026

Monday, August 17, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. · Stone County Courthouse

At this meeting: The board tabled a request to designate the Stone County Fairgrounds as an alternate school-district emergency shelter site, approved moving the Critz Street polling place to the Senior Center pending City of Wiggins sign-off, and heard SMPDD announce a new $3,000 annual veteran business grant. Supervisors also approved closing Hamilton Avenue, a fee waiver for the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, and a rewritten five-year Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The board went into executive session on a rubbish-accident property claim, a BI Origin letter of support, and county insurance contracts. Nineteen items passed, all by 5-0 vote.

Unfinished Business

2. SMPDD county services report and scholarship presentation. SMPDD reported that the county’s roughly $25,000 contribution in 2025 returned an estimated $1.3 million in services, announced a new $3,000 annual veteran business grant expected to launch within the month, and presented a $1,000 college scholarship to Briley Hines. For information; no vote.

3. Stone County 4-H recognition. The board recognized several 4-H members for summer achievements in shooting sports, the Southern Regional Horse Championship, and a livestock judging contest that qualifies a team for nationals in Kentucky in September. For information; no vote.

4. School zone signage and reunification site. The school district asked the city and county to study permanent traffic signage on Highway 49 near the new high school — no board vote was taken on this request.

The school district announced that the turf on the football field is complete and invited the county recreation program to use the field. Concern was expressed that the seating won’t be enough with the band and students in the stands. The stands hold 2200 spectators and can be expanded with additional investment and fundraising. The goal was to get the field finished.

The district also asked the board to consider the Stone County Fairgrounds as a backup emergency shelter site; the board tabled that request for next meeting. Passed 5-0.

5. US Small Business Administration briefing. SBA outlined Tropical Storm Arthur disaster loan terms available through its new Business Recovery Center at the New Hope Center, including 12 months interest- and payment-free on loans for businesses and nonprofits. The federal disaster loan program will be available until May of 2027. For information; no vote.

County Administrator

6. Neel Schaffer contractor’s estimate, Bulldog Boulevard Pathway. Passed 5-0.

7. Personnel report. Passed 5-0.

8. Personnel policy update. Passed 5-0.

9. Interbank transfer. Passed 5-0.

10. Rubbish accident property damage — final decision. Referred to executive session as a legal matter. 

11. Payroll #4-051 for the period ending July 31, 2026, payable August 8, 2026: $326,044.31. Passed 5-0.

Sheriff Department

12. One Loud Voice conference attendance for Jamie Sharp and Ashley Moore. Passed 5-0.

Emergency Management / E-911

13. CEMP Plan 2026, this is the five-year rewrite of the county’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. 

FEMA Project 4390, this item didn’t make it to the agenda, but it is associated with Tropical Storm Arthur and makes Mike Williams the Subgrant Authority to finish processing the Project. The RFPA is already submitted.

Motion: Both items Passed 5-0.

Circuit Clerk

14. Critz Street polling place relocation to the Senior Center, requiring a small precinct-boundary adjustment that staff confirmed displaces no voters. Passed 5-0, pending City of Wiggins approval.

15. Annual Courthouse Christmas Open House, set for December 5, 2026, in coordination with the Garden Gate Club home tour. Passed 5-0.

Tax Assessor / Collector

16–17. Homestead exemption application corrections (12) and a supplemental roll exemption adjustment. Presented together by the Tax Assessor/Collector’s office. Passed 5-0.

18–19. Mobile home and real property assessment reduction petitions. Presented together. Passed 5-0.

The office also confirmed that letters have gone out to flood-affected property owners about a state-law process (Miss. Code § 27-35-143) for assessment relief; applications will come back to the board later. Not on the printed agenda.

Oneal-Bond Engineering

20. SMPDD administrative contract for the county’s second Gulf Coast Restoration grant (park land purchase and sewer installation), keeping the same administrator and legal team as the first grant. Passed 5-0.

21. Inda Rail land acquisition (10 acres). The board reviewed an MOU amendment adding new signatories after a co-owner’s death; documents are to be reviewed and returned once signed. Informational; no vote taken.

Buildings and Grounds

22. Fee waiver for the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, requested by Dominion and Power Church. Passed 5-0.

Chancery Clerk

23. Hamilton Avenue closure petition. Staff confirmed no homes rely on the roughly 100-year-old road and the county doesn’t maintain it; the board will appoint reviewers and decide on a public hearing. Passed 5-0.

24. Letter of support for BI Origin. Layla Essary of the Economic Development Partnership raised concerns during discussion; the board attorney called the request unusual and recommended against acting that day. Referred to executive session. 

25. Accounts payable docket for August 17, 2026. Passed 5-0.

Lemon-Mohler

26. Insurance program review. Lemon-Mohler walked the board through an 18-month review of county coverage — vehicles, buildings, and employee bonds — before the board moved the item into executive session.

Departments

Stone County Regional Correctional Facility, Road Department, Medical Examiner’s Office, Justice Court, Recreation Department, Veteran Services, and Building and Planning Department — seven departments, all with no agenda items on August 17.

Executive Session

Motion: Determine the need for an executive session. Passed 5-0

Motion: Enter into executive session for Legal, Contract, Personnel related issues. Passed 5-0

27. Non-agenda comments. None recorded.

28. Executive session covered items 10, 24, and 26 above; no other action was announced. The board recessed until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 8, 2026.