Supervisors hear plans for tech, training center

By Leslie N. Dees

April 22, 2009 10:34 am

— Kosciusko-Attala Development Corporation CEO Steve Zea and Steve Russell with North Central Planning Development District discussed plans for the Kosciusko Attala Technology and Training Center, formerly the Milwaukee Electric Tool, with the Attala County Board of Supervisors Monday during their regular meeting.
Russell said the Economic Development Authority will award $1.5 million grant and the Community Development Block Grant of $450,000 will be the matching funds.
This funding is for job space development and will be used to design areas for WIN Job Center, Merchants and Farmers Data Center and an incubator space.
Zea said M&F had a real need to move for space and safety reasons and their investment in the center will be $1 million.
He added that he is talking to several prospects with the incubator space.
Those housed in the center will pay rent and their own utilities, Zea said.
The supervisors said before they would sign a resolution of support, they wanted to see some figures on paper regarding the rent and expenses. Supervisors would have to come up with $50,000 of matching funds for the CDBG.

Gravel breaks windows
Attala County Department of Human Services director Sheldon Harmon said reckless driving in the gravel lot near DHS office has lead to two broken windows.
“It looks like a rodeo out there,” he said.
He added that he is afraid that one day he is going to come to work and find an automobile lodged in the office building.
The supervisors agreed they had grated the gravel on several occasions and they new it had been a problem in the past.
They agreed to look into the situation and see what was monetarily feasible.

The board approved the following:
– School bus turnarounds for Mr. and Mrs. David Ingram and Emmanuel Lewis.
– Release telephone number from Department of Human Services
– Change in cafeteria plan for Southern Administrators due to changes for federal guidelines.
– Correction of tax receipt for Ukpaby Martin.
– Bids for grass cutting, installation for the sound equipment for circuit court and supplies.
– Pay for expenses for Emergency Management Director Danny Townsend for an upcoming conference in Biloxi.
– Supplemental agreement for the Town of Ethel paving project. The town has been awarded $50,000 additional federal funds and been awarded $50,000 from Mississippi Development Authority.