By Rupert Howell
Panola Supervisors agreed for Panola Partnership Executive Director Sonny Simmons to continue to pursue an unnamed industrial prospect during a closed door meeting with Simmons at the Sardis Courthouse Monday morning during a regular board meeting.
Somewhat optimistic, Simmons confirmed to a reporter that other locations throughout the country are also courting the prospect and are still in the running while noting the number had been trimmed considerably.
Simmons was also asked to sit in on a discussion concerning renovation of the North Panola Hospital Building in Sardis. Supervisors had heard preliminary plans during 2015 to possibly renovate the building or portions of it for use by county and state services.
Supervisors as well as Simmons appeared pessimistic about an estimated price of $150 per foot to renovate the structurally sound three-story building with an estimated square footage of 64,000.
“What I’m hearing is around $12 million to get it functional,” Board President Cole Flint said adding, “I think we can build something very feasible for a quarter of that.”
Supervisors voted to take the issue under advisement and set no date for further discussion which often means the matter is dead.
Emergency Management Director Daniel Cole whose title also includes Panola County Fire Coordinator explained a process where a fire district’s board of directors resigns and desolves their district. Supervisors then adopt “grading districts” thus taking over administration of the former district while leaving equipment and volunteer personnel intact.
The county currently has 10 rural districts and Cole hinted that two to four may be ready to turn administrative duties over.
During the discussion Cole noted that daytime fire coverage was one of the biggest problems stating that municipalities of Batesville and Sardis answered most structure fires during working hours and also noted that some districts were suffering from low volunteer turnout.
Cole also stated that any action should be taken on a volunteer basis.
Supervisors tabled the matter until next Monday’s meeting in Batesville to give attorney Bill McKenzie time to check on legalities.