A section of King’s Daughters Medical Center’s roof is in line for improvements after supervisors approved a contractor for the project.

     A $385,800 bid from Rowell Roofing, Inc. of Columbia was accepted by the board during their Monday meeting. It was the lowest of four bids submitted on the project.

     “Everything checked out,” said engineer Ryan Holmes in discussing bids and the project.

     The work, which will focus on the roof above the hospital’s third floor, will be funded through a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant, with the county being responsible for 10 percent. However, the hospital is covering the local portion of the expense, county officials said.

     To cover engineering and some other project-related expenses that pushed costs over the grant amount, Holmes said officials will ask for an additional $8,800 in grant funds. KDMC is expected to pick up the additional 10 percent related to the added funds Holmes is asking for.

     “It’s just a pass-through cost,” Holmes said.

     When contacted later Monday, KDMC Chief Executive Officer Alvin Hoover speculated the roof is at least 25 years old.

     “We certainly appreciate the supervisors helping us so we can get that roof work done,” Hoover said.

     Holmes said the project is expected to begin in January.

     In other business Monday, supervisors approved a request from Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield for software upgrades in his office.

     The initial cost will be approximately $12,800 and then a maximum of $7,250 for training, Bairfield said. He plans to pay for the work though funds collected by his fee-paid office.

     Bairfield said the upgrades were suggested by auditors during a recent review and would help with archiving office files.

     Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop said Bairfield’s plans are similar to ones he undertook after he took office years ago. He called the moved a “strong step in the preservation of records.”

     Also Monday, representatives from the Pearl River Basin Development District appeared before the board to update supervisors on district activities and the status of two of Lincoln County’s representatives on the district’s governing board.

     Travis Tadlock and Millard Smith, both 91, have announced their intentions to resign from the board. Tadlock has been a county representative since 1989 and Smith since 2004.

     Tadlock said they had spoken with possible successors but wanted to confer with them again before discussing the situation with supervisors further.

     In discussing funding, PRBDD Executive Director Mike Davis said since 2007, Lincoln County has contributed $345,000 to the agency and received approximately $500,000 in return.

     Much of the funding has been focused on improvements at the Lincoln Civic Center. Davis said the current funding situation is limiting PRBDD to $50,000 a year for projects, and this year’s funding is committed to the civic center.

     In the future, District One Supervisor the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson requested consideration for a park in his area and District Three Supervisor Nolan Earl Williamson mentioned the possibility of a walking trail for the southern part of the county. Davis said project possibilities could be considered in July.

     PRBDD’s Jimmy Baldwin updated the board of the status of water usage from underground aquifers monitored by the agency.

     “We’re pulling water out of the ground just a little faster than Mother Nature and the good Lord can it put,” Baldwin said.

     Baldwin presented charts showing most aquifer level dropping less than half a foot a year. He indicated no concern with the falling levels.

     “Lincoln County is blessed with plenty of water,” he said.