Since Gov. Tate Reeves issued a shelter in place order, businesses and operations deemed essential are still working out best practices in order to function safely and prevent spread of COVID-19.
The Madison County board of supervisors and other county officials met last week, at a safe six-feet distance from one another, to discuss challenges that the county is facing and the best ways to move forward.
Some challenges have been additional garbage out for pickup, how to deal with park closures and best practices for supervisors meetings.
County Administrator Shelton Vance addressed the board about the strain on garbage pickup, as the county’s garbage volume has increased by more than 50 percent.
“It has to do with, people were eating at restaurants but they are now cooking and eating at home, so that garbage is now in everybody’s garbage at home,” Vance said.
In addition to more food waste, Vance said the fact that people are at home and looking for things to do or completing projects has also led to an increase in “non essential waste,” which is also contributing to the larger volume of waste.
“If you look at that volume, and the fact that Waste Management has to use social distancing with their employees, they’ve now gone in some of the heavier areas from having three people on a truck to two people,” Vance said.
Fewer employees on routes and a larger volume of garbage has led to reduced speed of pickup. However, Vance said Waste Management is handling this by completing a route the following day if it is not completed on the regular pickup day.
As for county parks, they are all closed due to the governor’s order which includes parks in prohibited activities. However, all county parks have walking trails.
“The governor’s order closes parks, but allows walking trails to remain open,” Vance said. “The only way I can close those parks is to put a sign that says park closed. We don’t have gates or fences.”
The board decided to place caution tape around park equipment with a sign notifying visitors the park is closed, but access to the trails is allowed.
All board meetings will continue live streamed via the county’s website madison-co.com. At the conclusion of the meeting, residents may also access the entire video on the website as well. Meetings are also streamed on a monitor outside of the board room.
Also the county has enacted the following limits:
Attendance at board meetings will be limited to 10 people, which includes supervisors, chancery clerk, sheriff, board attorney, county administrator and comptroller.
Presenters on the agenda will be staged in the Board Conference Room and will only enter the boardroom at the time their business item is called.
For more information or questions, contact the office at 601-855-5502.
