The Tippah County supervisors spent part of their Oct. 5 meeting talking about how the county might work with Lazy H, a dog shelter and ranch in Ripley. They also took up the countywide burn ban, which is set to expire Oct. 18. The board took no formal action on either item. Both are expected to come back to the table soon.
The Tippah County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday at the county Administrative Building in Ripley, according to the Southern Sentinel. Supervisors Mike Graves, Glenn Michael, Jimmy Gunn, John Griffin and Chad Newby attended, along with county administrator Melinda Crum, board attorney Sean Akins, Sheriff Karl Gaillard and several other county officials.
Tippah County Supervisors Discuss Lazy H Shelter Partnership
Lazy H’s operation in Ripley has grown in recent months. Supervisors talked through what a framework agreement between the county and the shelter might look like. The discussion covered:
How many animals the shelter could take in
How long animals could stay before they are re-sheltered or placed
Other terms a formal agreement would need to spell out
Supervisor John Griffin also spoke with Jack Griffith, president and co-founder of the Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter, about how a county and shelter partnership has worked next door in Alcorn County.
No vote was taken. Board members agreed to keep working toward a resolution that supports local shelters. Stray and surrendered animals are a common concern in rural counties, and a written agreement would set out what each side is responsible for.
Burn Ban Runs Through Oct. 18
The county’s emergency burn ban remains in effect through Sunday, Oct. 18. Supervisors chose to wait until their next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15 to decide whether to extend it.
Until then, outdoor burning is still prohibited in Tippah County. Rain from Tropical Storm Isaias could reach North Mississippi this weekend. How much falls may shape whether the ban is lifted or extended. Residents with questions about burning should check with their local volunteer fire department or the Tippah County Sheriff’s Department.
Other Board Business
Supervisors also handled a list of routine items Monday, including:
Approving the county’s annual inventory report
Approving an emergency software purchase, which was discussed alongside the county’s NG911 funds and budget amendments
Approving an item for the Ripley High School Basketball Booster Club and the county’s dues to the National Association of Counties
Approving the claims docket, payroll and the minutes of the Sept. 15 meeting
The board also heard updates on county roads, refuse employees and complaints, the county insolvency list, first-quarter budget appropriations for the tax assessor and sheriff’s offices, and a postage meter contract for the circuit clerk’s office.
Next Meeting Oct. 15
The Board of Supervisors meets next on Thursday, Oct. 15. The burn ban extension is expected to be on the agenda, and the Lazy H discussion could return as well. Board meetings are open to the public.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
