Warren County supervisors, from left, Richard George, Carl Flanders, Charles Selmon, Michael Mayfield and David McDonald take the oath of office Monday during swearing-in ceremonies at the Warren County Courthouse.(Jenny Sevcik The Vicksburg Post)

[1/6/04]A new member and a new president marked the first meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors for 2004.

Carl Flanders, elected in District 4, joined the board for his first term and Charles Selmon, re-elected in District 3, was the unanimous choice to be board president for 2004.

All five members of the county governing board took their oaths of office in the chancery courtroom of the Warren County Courthouse from 9th District Chancellor Vicki R. Barnes.

Also taking oaths to start new four-year terms were Sheriff Martin Pace, Tax Assessor Pat Simrall, Chancery Clerk Dot McGee, Justice Court Judges Richard Bradford and Joe Crevitt and Constables John Henry Heggins, Glen McKay and Rudolph Walker.

In different ceremonies for new officials, Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree was sworn in by Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick, and County Prosecutor Ricky Johnson and Justice Court Judge Edwin “Eddie” Woods were sworn in by County Judge Johnny Price.

Flanders, a former school teacher, won his first quest for political office, defeating four-term incumbent Bill Lauderdale Jr. in November.

“I anticipate great things coming from this board, changes that will positively affect our community,” Flanders said.

As their business session began, District 5 Supervisor Richard George, president in 2003, called for the election of a new president. District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield nominated Selmon and District 1 Supervisor David McDonald seconded.

Although the job does not carry any additional pay, the board president has added responsibilities including chairing board meetings and signing on the board’s behalf.

Selmon conducted the election for vice president and Mayfield nominated McDonald. He, too, was elected unanimously.

The new board retained all its previous appointees. Rick Polk will continue as county administrator, John McKee and ABMB Engineers Inc. as county engineer and Rhea Fuller as county road manager.

While those votes were unanimous, the vote to retain Randy Sherard was split with George, McDonald and Flanders voting yes and Mayfield and Selmon voting no.

The board also elected McDonald to replace Lauderdale on the E-911 Commission, a city-county board that manages the emergency dispatch center.

Supervisors are the general managers of county operations and have many roles, including approving the real and personal property tax rolls, setting the county’s budget, setting millage rates to raise the money to fund the budget and overseeing the county road department.

Since Warren County opted to operate on the unit system many years ago, supervisors do not have day-to-day responsibility for overseeing the highway department, delegating that responsibility to the county road manager. They do have to make annual inspections of all of the roads in their district. Based on those inspections and input from the road manager and county engineer, the board sets the annual priorities for road paving and repair.

The jobs are considered part time and pay $37,343 a year in Warren County.