The topic of fair taxation somehow blended with opinion about the current sheriff’s race during the county supervisors "first Monday" meeting, which was held yesterday in Sardis.

Speaking to the Panola County Board of Supervisors, landowner Traci Stevens asked for a re-evaluation of an acre of land she owns near Hwy. 315.

The property was assessed at $2,000 by the county but once was assessed at $1,000 by Batesville Realtor Ronnie Coleman, Stevens told the board.

Reading from a prepared speech, Stevens said she was "shocked and appalled" by assessor Bill Bryant’s stubborn behavior during a hearing with him and called the higher assessment an "intolerable injustice."

Stevens expressed similar concerns in a Panolian letter to the editor that was published last week.

Bryant, who was not present at the meeting, is hired by the supervisors on a contract basis.

After receiving appraisal notices in the mail, county taxpayers have been meeting with county appraisers since last week to justify lower tax assessments on their property.

Responding to Stevens’ complaint, County Tax Collector David Garner showed assessments of the property from 1997 that showed the $2,000 assessment for every year since.

"The value of those lots has been $2,000 since 1985," Garner told the supervisors.

Supervisors agreed to continue the matter at next week’s board meeting, also saying they will talk to Bryant to hear his side of the story.

The Board of Supervisors also heard from Clarence Chapman, who owns Meadowview Apartments in Batesville.

Chapman said he was mostly pleased with Bryant’s assessment of the property with the exception of one variable, capitalization rate.

A new state law should help clarify the assessment, said Chapman, who was hopeful that he and Bryant could work out the only sticking point of the assessment.

The county supervisors also heard from Bill Elmore, who expressed his frustration with rising taxes.

"Why is it that everybody’s got to tighten their belt except county supervisors?" Elmore asked.

Elmore also complained about "waste" at the sheriff’s department, wondering why the department needed Sheriff Ida Bryan, Under Sheriff James Rudd and Chief Deputy Craig Sheley all acting in the sheriff’s role.

Elmore said Sheley, who is campaigning for sheriff, should be the county sheriff, endorsing Sheley within earshot of another candidate, jail administrator Hugh "Shot" Bright.

Sheley and Bright are among 11 candidates running for county sheriff.
 

Batesville Civic Center Director Roy Hyde gave Batesville’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen an overview of the facility’s operations last week, seven months after it opened in January.

In what became a "state of the civic center" meeting, the mayor and aldermen joined Hyde in the facility’s meeting room C. They authorized Hyde to hire an assistant administrator, heard his description of the need for sponsorships and signage, and reviewed construction deficiencies that have become evident during the facility’s first seven months of use.

Most evident among a list of minor construction deficiencies is the inadequate drainage allowed for the large area of the center’s roof.

Mayor Jerry Autrey got a first-hand look at the problem as he approached the meeting during a rainstorm. Runoff flowing through downspouts into underground drain pipes was regurgitated back through the connection at ground level, as though the underground part of the drainage system was blocked.

However, Hyde said that the drainage lines had been "scoped" and no blockage was found. "It’s hitting the pipes and they can’t handle it," he said. He blamed the drainage problem on insufficient capacity.

"The subcontractor said he put it in to specifications," Hyde added.

"Who has responsibility for oversights – city or architect?" the director’s work session agenda stated.

Hyde told city officials that 70 percent of his time as director was spent on the operational requirements at the facility, "keeping me from performing my primary role, marketing the facility and getting the shows in here," he stated.

The center director’s work session agenda outline an extensive list of areas in which an assistant director should be experienced

"What are we looking for in price?" Alderman James Yelton asked.

The amount is $38,000 annually, Hyde said.

"I would like to see this person live in Batesville," Alderman Bobbie Jean Pounders said.

"How many permanent people have you got out here right now?" Yelton asked.

"There’s four of us," Hyde replied. Some of the shows run 24 hours, he added.

"I think you’re right, that we’ve got to get someone immediately … . That way you can get on with getting more events out here," Yelton said, who made the motion to hire an assistant director for the civic center.

Pounders provided the second and the motion passed unanimously with Alderman-At-Large Teddy Morrow and Alderman Rufus Manley adding their votes. Alderman Bill Dugger was absent due to family illness.

"People just have to learn that there’s a benefit to having these shows," Hyde told city officials when he addressed the need for sponsorships at the facility. He outline two types of sponsorship: Sponsors solicited by show promoters who received publicity during a performance and building sponsors who purchase place specific advertising messages that are placed in the facility itself on an extended basis.

Chief among the latter is a lighted, outside sign to be located next to Highway 6. Hyde presented a recommendation and drawing for a sign 34 feet tall, 20 feet wide with a space nine feet tall for "full color, LED message, with five feet above and below the message for sponsors’ names.

The cost estimate pegged the sign at $143,795, and Hyde recommended the center purchase the sign and pay for it with the sale over time of its advertising space.

Hyde also made recommendations about internal signage but added: "I don’t want to take any sponsorships that’s available to promoters."

"We’re now tapping in to promoters who have corporate sponsorships," Hyde said.
 

Batesville Civic Center Director Roy Hyde used a July 28 work session with city officials to explain and clarify facility policies.

Responding to a claim made by a constituent to Alderman James Yelton that rental fee for the center was too high for the South Panola High School graduation, Hyde said: "We’ve never been approached; we’d love to talk to them."

"We’d love to have it here, that’s good public relations," Mayor Jerry Autrey said.

However, the facility might limit the number who might attend the graduation to fewer than the number able to attend at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford where exercises are currently held each May.

The Tad Smith Coliseum holds 8,700 people, a spokesman for the Ole Miss athletic staff said.

Boston Culinary has exclusive catering rights for food and beverage at the civic center, Hyde said.

That means that Boston Culinary must be given an opportunity to provide the service for any meeting. However, Boston Culinary would not be interested in a self-catered event, such as a church meeting or family reunion where participants bring their own food, Hyde explained.

However, a group which furnishes its own food cannot sell it, the center director said.

In addition: "no alcohol may be brought into these premises. Any alcohol must be provided and served by Boston Culinary," Hyde said.

In response to other questions about options in the civic center, the rental fee for a meeting room starts at $200 and depends on the length of time used and optional services furnished by the center, its director said.

In response to a request from Yelton, Hyde said he would bring a complete list of rental costs, services and options to the August 2 board meeting.