DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - DeSoto County leaders are putting together their 'wish list' for the New Year.
Every December the county's board of supervisors meets with state legislators before they go to the capitol. Supervisors met Monday to decide what the county's top issues are.
The legislature convenes in January. Supervisors want their representatives to know exactly what's important to North Mississippians.
"There are several topics of interest to DeSoto County government," says supervisor Mark Gardner. Next Monday, supervisors will outline those for the state's senators and representatives.
"We also try to give them the background information try to give them our research." The county has put together a list of what they'd like the state to consider in 2013.
"They've got to go back and meet with their committees and colleagues in house and senate who may not be aware of specific needs in DeSoto County," Gardner says.
The board will cover everything from money for roads to taxes. "If MDOT is not adequately funded we all suffer. Various people are going to present various topics."
Gardner will be discussing the county's desire to let the sheriff's department run radar. "It's strictly a safety issue," he says. It's failed year after year. "A lot of rural areas opposed to letting sheriff department run radar."
Gardner says DeSoto County may try a different approach this year. "Some legislators mentioned last year what's called Home Rule."
Instead of pushing approval for the entire state, home rule would let individual counties vote on the issue. "The board of supervisors can make the decision on that."
Supervisors want to hear from the public. The agenda will be presented at next Monday's board meeting on December 17th. They're encouraging residents to attend.
For more information, visit
www.desotocountyms.gov.
