Lauderdale County Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday morning to make direct deposit mandatory for all county employees by March 17.

District 2 Supervisor Wayman Newell was the lone supervisor to vote against the plan.

“The county has encouraged all employees to go to direct deposit. I’m one who gets a check,” Newell said. “I put money into three different accounts. This is a form of dictatorship forcing somebody to do something they don’t want to do, but the board has that authority.”

Supervisors President Josh Todd said the move is a money-saving option.

“It’s going to be a change for everybody,” Todd said. “In the end, it will save a good bit of money. It’s going to save enough money to be beneficial to go to direct deposit. I would say 98 percent of county employees are on direct deposit now.”

The vote was closer when it came to approving future travel requests. Newell requested trips with no specific dates be deleted from the agenda, including those District 4 Supervisor Joe Norwood would attend for the 2017 National Association of Black County Officials. By a 3-2 vote, Supervisors approved all nine requests with Newell and District 1 Supervisor Jonathan Wells voting nay.

“We have always had that issue,” Norwood said. “They appointed me to those boards and we should have been given a date for those meetings. What difference does a date matter?” 

In other business, supervisors approved:

• Visit Meridian Director Dede Mogollon’s request to attend the Mississippi Tourism Association Legislative Day and board meeting in Jackson Jan. 25-26 and Backstage Pass in Vicksburg Jan. 26-27. Expenses include hotel for two nights, three days per diem, travel in county vehicle. Supervisors also approved County Administrator Chris Lafferty and Todd to attend MTA Legislative Day. Expenses include hotel for a night, two days per diem and travel in a county vehicle.

• Supervisors approved Sheriff Billy Sollie’s request to add eight 2017 Dodge Chargers and one 2017 Dodge Durango to inventory. The vehicles were budgeted for lease-purchase at approximately $200,000. 

• Detention officers Torri Cabarras, Zachary Joiner, Benjamin Lampton, Robert McNamara, Jordan Odom, Tamara Taylor and Justin Vance to attend a 10-week State Certification Class at Meridian Community College.

• Sollie’s request to send deputies Dustin Allen and Bobby McClure to training opportunities around the state was approved.

• Lafferty’s request to transfer five funds totaling $67,065 to other funds, including $48,800 from Tourism Fund to the Agri-Center Fund.

• Waiving the Agri-Center deposit and fees for the Regional High School Archery Competition April 3-4. The event is sponsored by Clarkdale Attendance Center.

• A request to advertise for bids for three F350 Cab Chassis 4-door four-wheel drive trucks and three F150 4-door four-wheel trucks and one F150 4-door two wheel drive. The vehicles will be used in the Road Department.

• Lafferty’s request to accept the lowest bid for painting and carpet for improvements on the third floor of the Courthouse Annex. Shon’s Painting of Meridian was low bid ($14,260) for the paint, and Morgan Tile was the low carpeting bid ($9,995).

• Donating $500 to the Lauderdale County 4-H for the annual 4-H and Future Farmers of America Show and Sale.

• Lafferty’s request to advertise for a county road manager. Greg Collins has been serving as interim road manager since Greer Goldman retired Dec. 15.