The new year also marked the start of a new term for Calhoun County elected officials who all took their oaths of office at a recent ceremony at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro.
There are two new office holders among the 15 who were sworn in by Circuit Judge John Gregory – Coroner Salena Westmoreland and District Three Supervisor Gerald Thompson.
Calhoun County supervisors met Monday morning in Pittsboro to open 2020 appointing new officers and rehiring employees. Barney Wade, of Calhoun City, was unanimously re-elected president of the board and Tony Morgan, of Vardaman, vice-president.
Sonny Clanton was retained as the board attorney. Jenny Hill was re-hired as county purchasing clerk and Chodie Myers with Willis Engineering was reappointed county engineer.
County employees were also rehired and Coroner Salena Westmoreland appointed Will Dowling, pastor of Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church in Calhoun City, as her deputy coroner. Christopher Nix was appointed receiving clerk by District Three Supervisor Gerald Thompson.
In other business from the meeting, the board approved:
•Pay estimates for J.J. Ferguson and Colom Construction for STP/BR projects.
•Bids for the county depository were taken under advisement.
•Transfer of sick leave from jailer Steve Poindexter to dispatcher Jacqueline Thornton.
•Increased mileage reimbursement from 54.5 to 57.5 and meal per diem from $30 to $46 as set by the state legislature.
•Refinanced 2018 Mack Truck for District Four through BancorpSouth.
•Lease purchase agreement through BancorpSouth for a used dump truck for district five. Other bid was from Hancock Bank.
•Paula Newman appointed as election assistant per request of Circuit Clerk Carlton Baker. He was also contracted by county program election machines.
•Purchase of new pickup truck for district three on state contract price.
•Transfer of $2,300 from district two to county wide road fund for 1,000 gallons of CRS-2.
•Routine items approved included solid waste chargebacks, monthly claims and minutes, and travel for Chancery Clerk Romona Tillman to attend a conference in Jackson.