[5/6/03]With the county owed more than $1 million in unpaid justice court fines, Warren County will consider signing up a collection firm.

South District Judge Joe Crevitt made the request to supervisors Monday. Supervisors asked Crevitt how to get in touch with Court Programs Inc., a Florida-based company with offices in Mississippi.

“They have a plan for collecting old fines,” Crevitt told the board, basing his recommendation on reports from other counties.

Crevitt said if the board approves a contract with the company, Court Programs will add a percentage to the amount of the fines and that will be its collection fee.

“Before we make a decision on a collection agency, I think it would be wise to give others the opportunity to apply for it,” said District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon.

“We already requested proposals, and we got no response,” said District 1 Supervisor David McDonald.

District 5 Supervisor Richard George, board president, then asked Crevitt for the name of Court Program’s contact so the county could get a sample contract for the board’s attorney, Randy Sherard, to review.

In other action, supervisors:

Voted to continue with the purchase of a lot adjacent to the Warren County Justice Court Building on Farmer Street. George said the property owner had agreed to accept the $50,000 the county offered. The land will be used for expansion of the justice court operation.

Approved a payment of $1,500 to Ferris Farms for right of way and a temporary easement for work on the Hamer Creek Bridge, a payment $4,086 to Anderson-Tully Co. for right of way and a temporary easement and replacing a fence for Patricia “Petesy” Smith for work on Tucker Road.

Accepted the recommendation of the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Purchasing Director Tonga Vinson to award a contract for the purchase of a 1,200-gallon-per-minute pumper from Pierce Manufacturing Co. A $50,000 grant from the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Program will pay part of the $143,000 cost.

Approved the following road names: Nesting Site Drive off Mississippi 465, Loredo Road off Freetown Road, the spelling “Jermy” Drive and Dove Road off Buck’s Drive.

Accepted the recommendation from the purchasing director to accept the financing offer of 3.11 percent from First Continental Leasing for financing on a bulldozer.

Approved a request for Mitchell Dent, who was appointed recently to fill an unexpired term as a Warren County Justice Court judge, to attend a basic trial skills course.

Approved a 20 mph speed limit on Possum Hollow Road.

Adjourned until 9 a.m. May 19.