County Office Changes Under Review
County Office Changes Under Review
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Super-visors hired a new purchasing clerk and contemplated numerous office changes during a recessed meeting held Monday at the Water Valley courthouse. The changes include possibly moving the justice court office, garbage collection office, purchasing office and E-911 office to the Coffeeville courthouse.
The office changes have surfaced in earlier meetings as Board President Cayce Washington outlined potential cost-saving plans for some departments to share labor. Washington has also been adamant that courthouse space should be utilized for county business and has been in favor of reallocating space to save on utilities and other operating costs. Washington has also voiced favor for utilizing cuts to fund raises for county employees.
The discussion surfaced again Monday after supervisors voted unanimously to hire Melissa Ayers as purchase clerk following the resignation of Bonnie Hill.
“I guess I have made no secret about my desire to close down some of these offices out in the county,” Washington said Monday, explaining that he thought the space could be better utilized by putting the departments in the county’s courthouses.
“This gives us a great opportunity to put people in the courthouses, and to conduct the county business within the courthouses,” Washington continued.
Outlining the specifics of his plan, Washington explained that the justice court office (would not affect court, which is held in both courthouses), sheriff’s department and other county offices could be moved out of the Carother’s office, located on County Road 436, to free up space to move the Department of Human Services into the Carother’s building.
Washington explained the changes would then free up the county-owned building on Frostland Drive in Water Valley where the Department of Human Services currently uses.
“We possibly could sell that building to the hospital,” Washington explained about the Frostland Drive building.
The second building that could be vacated is the building adjacent to the District 1 county barn currently utilized by the purchasing clerk and garbage collection offices, which would be moved to the Coffeeville courthouse.
“That’s two buildings we would not be paying utilities on,” Washington said.
He also pointed to the benefits of sharing and cross training employees, citing cost-savings and better customer service for county offices including being open during the lunch hour. Currently most of the county offices close during the noon hours.
Also discussed was apprehension by some of the employees that could be affected by the changes that could include adding additional duties and working for multiple bosses.
“I think there is a lot of apprehension about some of this. Anytime you have a lot of change, you are going to have a lot of apprehension,” District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray said.
“You have given me a lot of information here today. I am on board with the money savings. If I can get on board and find out what we are closing down and where they are going, I will know exactly what I am voting on,” District 2 Supervisor Ken Rogers added, when asked his opinion about the changes.
Washington initially recommended moving the offices by the start of the new budget year, which is October 1.
“Is there any reason why we can’t do it now?” District 3 Supervisor Lee McMinn asked as discussion continued on the matter. The matter was ultimately tabled until a recessed meeting scheduled Friday at 9 a.m. at the Water Valley courthouse.
