On the agenda

* Awarded a construction contract to Key, LLC, to replace the E.W. Haining Road bridge at the entrance to the Port of Vicksburg. Key’s offer was for $6.8 million. Supervisors threw out a lower bid from Ellisville-based Tanner Construction Co. Reviews of the company’s $6.04 million bid package by board counsel and county engineers found the offer was based on a longer period of construction time, since shortened after the project did not appear on a state-run procurement Web site, after which supervisors changed the bid opening date.

The contract is subject to approval by the Mississippi Development Authority, which is administering the $10 million Katrina-related disaster grant financing the project. County engineers estimated the construction and intersection improvements at $7.3 million.

The current contract time is 800 days, or a little more than two years. Key, based in Madison, is the contract builder on the new Yazoo River bridge in Redwood, expected to open in 2010.

* Accepted a court order from Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick raising the salary for his court administrator. The vote was 4-1, with District 4 Supervisor Bill Lauderdale voting no. Supervisors set budgets for the circuit courts, but orders for pay adjustments may be enforced by the judges via bench action.

* Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Vicksburg for use of voting machines for the mayoral primary and general elections.

To allow for a smooth transition when state election management software to be used in the touch-screen machines is available Feb. 25, information systems chief David Rankin has agreed to employment by the Circuit Clerk’s Office as it assists the city, board attorney Randy Sherard said. Rankin’s retirement from the county was to be effective Feb. 28.

* Appointed Elva A. Smith as interim District 3 Election Commissioner. Smith, a support manager for Jameson Inn, will occupy the seat until a special election is called by supervisors to fill the seat on a permanent basis. Former commissioner Patricia Reed did not opt to run for the position in last year’s general election.

* Added Amelia Perkins as a full-time clerk in Emergency Management. Interviews are also forthcoming for the vacant post of operations officer, director Gwen Coleman said.

* Approved sending a letter to the Yokena Jeff Davis Water District agreeing to pay $3,944.50 for moving a water line as part of repairs to LeTourneau Road.