BOCC approves grant application for Ag Center rebuild

HOLMES COUNTY – A request to apply for a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) to rebuild the Ag Center was approved when the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on September 7. 

Holmes County Development Council Chairman Joe Rone came before the board to make the request stating it looked good
the county would receive the grant. “We applied last year under the
idea of new construction but that is impossible under disaster relief,” said Rone. “We were told to reapply the following year as a rebuild, and that is what we are here to do.” Applications are due September 17.

The rebuild is needed after being condemned due to the heavy structural  damage it sustained during Hurricane Michael in 2018. The building had become a health hazard because of black mold, causing the condemned status.

The
Tourist Development Council is set to be on the agenda for the next
meeting after Attorney Brandon Young advised commissioners about a 2007 ordinance that enacted the TDC and how it is to be run. The TDC has not held a meeting since August 21, 2019,
mostly due to not having a quorum at any meetings held since then. With
all the information in hand, Young and Rone will be contacting current board members and determining who has
time remaining on their appointments. Rone advised the board of the
total amount of funds in the TDC account as being $383.406.63 stating that approximately $100,000 is being taken in annually from the three percent bed-tax. 

The
FEMA paving project on 13 Holmes County roads is moving along according
to Engineer Cliff Knauer and is expected to meet the December 1
deadline for completion.  In all, more than 40 miles of road will be paved on Old Mill Road, Valee Road, Peak Road, Bradley Road, Steverson Road, Flowing Well Road,  Beall Packing Road, HooverÂ’s Mill Road, Sand Path Road, Hathaway Mill Road, Oak Grove, Coursey Road, and Bush Road.

The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners will meet again in regular session at 9 a.m. on September 21.