Covington County students headed back to school this week. In an effort to give everyone time to become acclimated to the changes, students returned to school with a rolling start schedule. Superintendent of Education Babette Duty and her staff have been on the school campuses this week to support the approximately 470 employees and 2700 students. (Report from The News-Commercial)
John McLaurin was recently honored upon his retirement for his twenty-five years of service to the City of Collins. He worked with the City from 1995-2020 driving the Garbage Truck.
Mayor Hope Magee Jones presented Mr. McLaurin with a key to the City and Public Director Bob Shoemake presented him with a plaque. The city would like to extend congratulations to Mr. McLaurin for a job well done.
Carrie Massengale Underwood was given a Retirement Reception on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Collins Civic Center in Collins. Mrs. Underwood retired as the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Collins after eleven years of dedicated service to the City.
Pictured above are (from left), former Mayor V. O. Smith, Carrie Underwood, and current Mayor Hope Magee Jones.
During the time of presentation and recognition, comments were given by Mayor Hope Magee Jones, former Mayor V. O. Smith, City Clerk Suzette Davis, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Williamson, City of Collins Fire Chief John B. Pope III, and Mississippi Municipal Clerks Association President JoAnn Robinson.
Mrs. Underwood was presented a key to the City by Mayor Jones. Among the other gifts she received was a collage blanket that had pictures from her years of service with the city. This was presented to her from City Clerk Suzette Davis and the City Hall Office Team.
Music for the evening was presented by John Douglas, Stacy Blackwell, and Ken Craft.
The City of Collins will hold its annual tax sale online on Monday, August 31, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.via the GovEase website. The City of Collins Tax Collector Suzette Davis will conduct an online tax sale for delinquent and unpaid taxes for the year of 2019. The GovEase website will allow bidders to submit bids, view and download auction results.
Click here to view the properties that will be listed for sale.
FOR 2017 DELINQUENT TAXES – COLLINS, MISSISSIPPI
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE THAT THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LANDS, WERE, ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2018 SOLD FOR THE TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2017, AND THAT THE TITLES TO SAID LANDS WILL BECOME ABSOLUTE TO THE PURCHASER UNLESS REDEMPTION FROM SAID TAX SALE IS MADE ON OR BEFORE THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2020.
THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY 2020.
SUZETTE DAVIS
CITY CLERK, CITY OF COLLINS
084N19 01800
RECEIPT NO: 158
DEES J C SR EST
LOTS 3 & 4 BLK 43, IN COLLINS
ORIGINAL SURVEY
4043030 PPIN: 9578
% CHARLES JUDE MILLER
156 HAMPTON HILLS BLVD
CANTON MS 39046
136Q24 19100
RECEIPT NO: 779
NIXON MATTIE EST
PT BLK 9 & 10 W OF NEW HWY IN COLLINS
(WATTS SURVEY)
PPIN:10307
084N19 00200
RECEIPT NO: 791
DEES J C EST
3 AC N OF RR & W OF DITCH IN
SE4 SW4 COLLINS SUBDIVISION
7200010 PPIN: 10319
% CHARLES JUDE MILLER
156 HAMPTON HILLS BLVD
CANTON MS 39046
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Collins announce an opening for full-time position in the Public Works Department. A valid driver’s license is required. Applications may be picked up at City Hall during the hours of 9:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M. Deadline for receiving applications will be July 15, 2020, at 5:00 P.M.
Governor Reeves Extends Safer At Home To Protect Public Health, Reopens Barbershops and Salons
by Renae Eze, The Governor’s Office
During his press conference on Friday, May 8, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves announced the next stage for Mississippi to continue safely reopening the state’s economy while protecting public health.
In a new executive order, Governor Reeves extends his Safer At Home Order for another two weeks until 8:00 AM on Monday, May 25 in an effort to continue flattening the curve while allowing Mississippians to get back to work safely. Consulting with our state health officials, the Governor also lays out strict social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols for salons, barbershops, and gyms to begin reopening now to restore the livelihoods of the small businesses owners and their employees.
“The human cost of another Great Depression is higher than the benefit of broad orders. As we work to re-open our economy, that is not a signal that the threat of the virus is gone. It is a shift in strategy because months of making it illegal for small businesses to operate is not sustainable. To the people of Mississippi: I am asking you—begging you—to exercise your personal responsibility,” said Governor Tate Reeves.
Governor Reeves announced his new executive order at his daily press briefing today, which you can view on our Facebook page here.
In this latest executive order, the Governor lays out strict social distancing guidelines to begin the process of slowly and safely reopening salons, barbershops, and gyms, including:
SALONS & BARBERSHOPS:
For businesses:
Before they can reopen, the entire salon or barbershop must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, salons and barbershops must be deep-cleaned daily.
All salons and barbershops are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances.
Minimizing person-to-person contact through technology, like mobile or online reservations and contact-less payment, is encouraged.
Salons and barbershops must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
Chairs are to be rearranged to ensure at least 6 feet between each customer and be sanitized after each use by a customer.
Only one customer per employee is allowed in the salon or barbershop at any given time.
For employees:
All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
Employees must also wear disposable gloves and change them between customers, as well as wash their hands between every customer.
All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For customers:
All waiting areas are to remain closed. Customers must wait in their vehicles until their appointment time and they are called for screening before entering.
Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting.
Customers will be screened upon entry, including asking whether they have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19.
Customers must wear a face covering, such as a cloth mask, while inside at all times, unless they’re receiving a service that would be impeded by the covering.
Each customer must be draped with a clean cape, which are to be laundered after each use. A protective neck strip should also be placed around the neck of each customer getting a haircut.
GYMS:
For businesses:
Before they can reopen, the entire gym must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, gyms must be deep-cleaned daily.
All gyms are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Gyms must close to the public by 10:00 PM each day.
In addition to other gym staff, there must be at least one employee onsite during hours of operation dedicated to wiping down equipment after each use.
All high-touch areas must be sanitized at least once every two hours.
Exercise machines and equipment must be rearranged and.or deactivated to ensure at least 6 feet between customers.
Gyms must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances and throughout the gym floor.
All common areas must remain closed.
For employees:
All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Every employee on the gym floor must wear disposable gloves to be changed at least once an hour.
For customers:
No more than 30% of the gym’s maximum capacity. Gyms are encouraged to limit customers’ time to a max of 1 hour per day.
Classes or group exercises are allowed with customers maintaining a minimum of a 6-foot distance apart.
Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting the gym and when they move between equipment.
Collins Police Department Chief of Police Joey Ponder is pleased to announce that in April 2020 the Crime Cameras from the Project NOLA are up and running at multiple locations throughout the city limits of Collins. The cameras will be monitored and record 24/7 and have the ability to pan, tilt, zoom, and record.
It is a real-time monitoring center at the Collins Police Department station. These cameras will help the CPD get a leg up on crime prevention and deter crime.
The Board of Directors of the Covington County Chamber of Commerce and the Okatoma Festival Committee have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Okatoma Festival that was set for Saturday, May 2, in Collins. Due to the concern and precautionary measures being taken by the (CNN) US Center for Disease Control and Prevention and our state government agencies to control the spread of COVID-19, the Chamber wants to abide by their recommendation to cancel the Festival. The health and safety of the chamber members, the entire community, and visitors remain the top priority.
According to Marie Shoemake, Executive Director of the Covington County Chamber of Commerce, the annual Festival is a homecoming that draws the citizens of the county together. The Festival showcases the schools, churches, civic organizations, and promotes the “quality of life” that is enjoyed in Covington County.
The Chamber is making plans for the 2021 Okatoma Festival to be held Saturday, May 1, 2021.