County board dissolves Curtis/Locke Station FD

By Rupert Howell
Supervisors canceled holidays, or taking a vote on them anyway, until next week after Gov. Phil Bryant earlier proclaimed the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 25, the Monday after Christmas, December 26 and the Monday after New Year’s, January 2 as official state holidays.
Supervisors looked to attorney Bill McKenzie to find out by next Monday’s Batesville meeting if it is legal for the county to add additional days Friday, December 23 and Friday, December 30 to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Other action during Monday’s meeting in Sardis included no action on the county’s burn ban expiring that day but Governor Bryant’s current statewide ban supersedes and is more stringent than the county’s ban according to Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole.
Supervisors voted unanimously to dissolve the Curtis/Locke Station Rural Fire Department reclassifying it as a rating district under the county’s governance. Cole explained the number of commissioners in that district had dwindled and current members were in agreement with the reclassification.
Two other rural districts were reclassified earlier this year. The EMA director noted that the fire district was currently debt-free with a substantial bank balance, funds that can only be spent on that department.
Cole also received approval to hire Jerry Cranford on a part-time, as needed basis to assist with administrative duties while getting the reclassified districts’ protocol in place. The currently retired Cranford is a volunteer fireman and former rural fire chief. Cole said Cranford’s employment would be temporary as he plans to travel beginning in the spring.
The Emergency Management Administrator alerted supervisors during the meeting that up to three back-up generators had been approved for purchase through a mitigation grant. Generators will be placed at the Sardis courthouse and the county’s two road maintenance shops.