During the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday morning, July 19. Russell Delk with Cellular South returned to see how they found service to be with the test phones he gave them during their last meeting. All of the supervisors agreed the service was where they needed it. Delk pointed out where $1500 a month would be saved by changing their service. Benjie Ford, Supervisor of Beat Three, made the motion to accept the new service and the motion passed. There are 24 phones used by the county, with about half of them being used by the Sheriff’s Department. The cost of each phone with unlimited calling is $39.99 per month.

Tate Revette, the Emergency Management Director, said he depended on the text messaging capabilities on his phone. He explained his office has to contact him during meetings and he receives quicker responses when using text messaging with his contacts. Delk offered him the Blackberry phone with unlimited messaging and calling for $59.99.

Cellular South agreed to pay the $200 early termination fee on those phones with contracts still in effect with their old service.

Debra Sivira asked the supervisors to allow American Municipal Services to handle the collection of all the county’s old citations. “State law now allows us to charge 25% to defendant,” she said. They will also notify the county if charges can not be paid due to death or imprisonment at no cost to the county.

The supervisors approved the 16th section residential agreement between the Smith County Board of Education and Wendell Gavin and Mae J. Gavin.

The special order to pay Smith County Soil and Water Conservation $6875 for their 4th quarter allotment had to be approved because it did not make it onto the claims docket. They also approved the claims docket on the utilities and the June minutes. Cindy Austin, Chancery Clerk, will serve as the audit representative for the state auditors.

The compressor in the Trane unit at the court house will be replaced by Hermetic Rush for $3949. “ The labor charges are included in the service agreement, but after 10 years the parts are no longer included and the compressor is over 10 years old,” Rita McDonald, Purchasing Agent, said. They are scheduled to start Wednesday, July 21.

Sheriff Charlie Crumpton asked if all employees would park behind the Chancery Building Friday, July 23. “There will be visitors coming to the court house from other counties for the memorial service and parking will be limited,” he said. Bids were opened for the seized and surplus vehicles at the Sheriff’s Department, but they were all taken under advisement.

After the executive session the supervisors voted to make some personnel changes. Elaine Shelby was moved from payroll to accounting, Melissa Walker was moved from solid waste to payroll and Christy Tanner will now be handling the solid waste accounts.