County, city offices locked after tests reveal positive

Both the county courthouse and city hall reinstated lockdown status at both facilities last week after some staff at the two office buildings reportedly tested positive for coronavirus or placed themselves in voluntary quarantine because they had been exposed.
Board of supervisors president Larry Montgomery said courthouse doors are locked again after being opened to the public less than two weeks earlier.
Tax collector/assessor Peggy Hilburn said county offices will continue to conduct business and workers will staff offices as they did during the previous lockdown.
“The public is again being asked to do business with the county as we did during the first lockdown. You can call the main courthouse number at 601-876-3553. That brings up a menu with an extension to dial to connect you with the proper county office,” Hilburn said. “You can also conduct business by regular mail or email. The tax collector’s office can accept payments by check via mail, or call and we can process your payments by debit or credit card.”
Hilburn says a table and drop box is set up on a table outside the eastside door of the courthouse, and the box is checked periodically throughout the day. She said she has also placed materials there for the public to pickup with instructions of how small businesses can apply for virus aid grants. The material is also available on the website: backtobusinessms.org and outlines the rules and regulations owners need to comply with to apply for up to $25,000 in grants to recover coronavirus-related expenses.
At city hall, office workers are at their posts but customers cannot enter the building which, like the courthouse, is locked. Customers can continue to do business with the city via phone at 601-876-4011 where employees can answer questions and process payments via debit or credit card. Checks for taxes, water/sewer and garbage fees can be mailed to city hall or dropped into the drop box to the left of the entrance to city hall.