Stone County Board of Supervisors Recap | October 19, 2026
Monday, October 19, 2026 · 9:00 AM · Stone County Courthouse, Wiggins
At this meeting: The board approved the final amended FY2025-26 budget 5-0, approved a new process for payroll account transfers so money is in place before direct deposits go out, approved the Sheriff Department's Alcohol and Drug Grant and Occupant Protection Grant 5-0 and heard that two new deputies are on the road, approved the Southern Latitude RV Park site plan pending state sewer authorization, and tabled Oneal-Bond Engineering's resolutions for a natural gas capacity grant until matching-fund numbers are available. After a public hearing with no comment, the board approved the county taking over Deer Run Ridge Drive for maintenance 5-0, appointed Chief Stephen Purvis to the South - East Mississippi Air Ambulance District Board of Directors 5-0, approved a burn ban until the next meeting 5-0, and voted 4-1 to convey the Hickman-Bond Cemetery to the Bond family, with Supervisor Nathan Bond abstaining.
Board Meeting Called to Order.
Pledge of Allegiance.
1. For Approval: Minutes from October 5, 2026 No discussion was captured in the record. Passed 5-0.
Unfinished Business
2. For Approval: Point of Reunification for Stone County School District No discussion was captured in the record. Passed 5-0.
Stone County Administrator
3. For Approval: Final Amendment Budget for FY – 2025-2026
County Administrator Ryan Merrill handed out the final amended budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
Passed 5-0.
4. For Approval: Authorization for Payroll Account Transfers
County staff explained that since the county began direct deposit, payroll money leaves the account on Friday morning, before checks are processed. Moving money from the primary account to the payroll account on Wednesday, then uploading the file, means the money is already there when the payroll information is sent on Friday, with no delay.
Passed 5-0.
5. For Approval: Personnel Report
No discussion was captured in the record.
Passed 5-0.
6. For Approval: Payroll #4-055 For Payroll Period Ending 9/25/2026 And Payable 10/02/2026. ($328,375.55)
Passed 5-0.
Department head budgets. Not on the printed agenda. Circuit Clerk Treba Davis asked when department heads will receive their budgets, since the county is already in the FY2026-27 budget year. County Administrator Ryan Merrill said they were available.
For information; no vote.
Stone County Sheriff Department
7. For Approval: Alcohol and Drug Grant
The Sheriff reported on the department’s grants. Deputies have been hired, and there are two new deputies on the road. Board members said the community should see additional officers.
Passed 5-0.
8. For Approval: Occupant Protection Grant
Taken together with item 7.
Passed 5-0.
Stone County Building and Planning Department
9. For Approval: Site Plan – Southern Latitude RV Park, Hollis S. “Pete Williams” TBD East McHenry Rd; McHenry, MS
The county has the intent to serve for the RV park. The state has not yet approved the sewer tie-in, so the board was asked to approve the site plan pending state sewer authorization. Work cannot begin until the state approves.
Approved pending state sewer authorization.
Oneal – Bond Engineering
10. For Review / Approval: Resolution of Authorization to Apply and Resolution Committing Matching
The engineer presented a grant to increase natural gas capacity and said he has an engagement letter from the South Mississippi Planning and Development District (SMPDD). He had meant to bring both resolutions for review and signature, but the application deadline was moved from the end of October to the end of November. He asked the board to table them until he has the matching-fund numbers.
He said the first step is at the Delta Utilities gate, part of about five steps in a long-range plan being worked out with Delta Utilities. The compressor station at that point dates to 1955 and can only do so much, even if the line size is increased. The industrial park has $1.5 million for sewer and a two-inch gas main, and a large user there would affect gas availability in Perkinston.
Tabled at the engineer’s request until he has the matching-fund information.
Stone County Buildings and Grounds
Items 11 and 12 were taken before item 10.
11. For Approval: Vehicles for Auction
No discussion was captured in the record.
Passed 5-0.
12. For Approval: Inventory Deletions
No discussion was captured in the record.
Passed 5-0.
Public Hearing
13. For Approval: Deer Run Ridge Drive
The 10:00 AM public hearing was opened and closed with no comment. The attorney explained that when a private road is turned over to the county, a petition is received by the board and notice is published. A committee of two then reviews whether the road meets county specifications, and the committee found that it does. With the board’s approval, the county is responsible for keeping the road safe and in good repair instead of the residents. This item was taken after the 10:00 AM recess and executive session (item 19).
Passed 5-0.
Resident questions. Not on the printed agenda. Residents of the road asked what the county’s takeover means. Supervisor Stevie Lee asked about a place for emergency vehicles to turn around. Garbage trucks currently turn around and back down the road.
For information; no vote.
Stone County Chancery Clerk
14. For Approval: Appoint Board Member to the South – East Mississippi Air Ambulance District Board of Directors
The county participates in the air ambulance district and pays into it once a year, but it needs a member on the district’s board. The previous member is no longer serving. The recommendation was Chief Stephen Purvis.
Passed 5-0.
15. For Approval: Advertise County Resources SPCA
The SPCA asked the county to advertise an upcoming event.
Passed 5-0.
16. For Approval: Accounts Payable Docket For October 19, 2026
Passed 5-0.
17. For Approval: Hickman-Bond Cemetery
The County Attorney asked for more time to review the item and asked that it be taken at the end of the meeting. When it was taken, he explained that the Hickman-Bond Cemetery is an exclusive family cemetery, but the county holds a deed to the property. He recommended that the board convey the deed to the family so the family is responsible for maintenance. He said there may be value in, or a need to hold on to, the property, but conveying it would save the county maintenance and repair costs. The resolution conveys the property to Levi Bond with the understanding that the county has no future financial obligation to the property. Supervisor Nathan Bond abstained, citing family relationships.
Passed 4-1; Supervisor Nathan Bond abstained.
No items were on the agenda for the Stone County Regional Correctional Facility, Circuit Clerk, Tax Assessor / Collector, Road Department, Medical Examiner’s Office, Justice Court, Recreation Department, Veteran Services, or Emergency Management / E 911.
18. Non Agenda Comments 3 Minute Limit
Burn ban. Not on the printed agenda. The Emergency Management Agency director said a cold front came in faster than expected and, citing low humidity, asked the board for a burn ban until the next meeting.
Passed 5-0.
Introduction: George Schmidt. George Schmidt, an attorney of 34 years, introduced himself to the board and described his background. For information; no vote.
Introduction: John Smallwood. John Smallwood, an attorney of 32 years who has practiced mainly family law in Chancery Court, introduced himself to the board. For information; no vote.
Executive Session
19. Call for Executive Session The board recessed until 10:00 AM and went into executive session before the public hearing on item 13. The stated reason was policy. The board determined a need for executive session, 5-0, and entered executive session, 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned. The printed agenda lists the next meeting as 9:00 AM, Monday, November 2, 2026.