2024-2028 Term
District 1 — Hal Hayes
District 2 — Joe Dyess
District 3 — Andrew Chapman
District 4 — Keith Clay
District 5 — Henry Cooley
Address: Wayne County Courthouse, 609 Azalea Drive, Waynesboro, MS 39367
Telephone: 601-735-3414
Fax: 601-735-6230
Get involved with your county government
The Wayne County Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m., on the first Monday and second Thursday of each month in the Supervisors’ Chambers on the first floor of the Wayne County Courthouse at 609 Azalea Drive in Waynesboro.
If a regularly scheduled meeting falls on a holiday, the board typically meets on the next working day following the holiday or can gather on another agreed upon day. The board also schedules additional meetings (called or work sessions) as it deems necessary to handle pertinent county business and in the case of emergency situations.
Sessions are open to the public, with the exception of executive sessions (called to discuss legal matters or the good name and character of individuals, as stipulated under state law).
Public participation policy in board meetings
On Monday, February 5, 2024, supervisors formally and unanimously adopted an order setting policies for public participation at board meetings. Here is the board order as adopted:
CAME ON FOR CONSIDERATION before the Wayne County Board of Supervisors the matter of adopting rules for public participation at public meetings. After discussion of the matter, the following Order was offered by Supervisor Hal Hayes and seconded by Supervisor Henry Cooley to wit:
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors (the “County”) has authority under M.C.A. 25-41-9 to make reasonable rules and regulations for public participation at county meetings; and,
WHEREAS, the County has determined that recently several meetings have not been conducted in an orderly and efficient manner; and,
WHEREAS, based upon this recent history, the County hereby makes a finding of fact that such reasonable rules and regulations are now necessary to ensure the orderly and efficient conduct of meetings; and,
WHEREAS, the County has determined that these rules and regulations should be in writing and made available to the public to govern participation in the meeting as follows:
I. To speak at any board meeting, one must be placed on the agenda unless approved by the board in emergency circumstances.
II. To be placed on the agenda, one must notify the board that they wish to be placed on the agenda three (3) or more days prior to the board meeting in which he or she wishes to speak as well as inform the board of the topic in which he or she will be speaking.
TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA, VISIT THE SUPERVISORS’ OFFICE AT THE COURTHOUSE (8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS) OR CONTACT BOARD SECRETARY MELISSA DAVIS BY TELEPHONE AT 601-735-3414.
III. Those on the agenda to speak are limited to the topic in which they inform the board on which they are speaking.
IV. Those on the agenda to speak are limited to five (5) minutes unless the board approves additional time.
V. All department heads are placed on the agenda for the first meeting of the month.
VI. No one in the audience is allowed to speak unless given the floor by the Board President.
VII. Once given the floor, no one is allowed to speak to anyone other than the board; and,
WHEREAS, nothing in these rules and regulations shall abridge or limit the right of the public to view and observe the public meetings as guaranteed in M.C.A. 25-41-1, et seq., (the Mississippi Open Meetings Law).
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED by the Board of Supervisors of Wayne County, Mississippi, as follows:
1. The following Rules for Public Participation at Board Meetings is hereby adopted and shall be effective immediately:
a. To speak at any board meeting, one must be placed on the agenda unless approved by the board in emergency circumstances.
b. To be placed on the agenda, one must notify the board that he or she wishes to be placed on the agenda three (3) or more days prior to the board meeting in which he or she wishes to speak as well as inform the board of the topic on which he or she will be speaking.
TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA, VISIT THE SUPERVISORS’ OFFICE AT THE COURTHOUSE (8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS) OR CONTACT BOARD SECRETARY MELISSA DAVIS BY TELEPHONE AT 601-735-3414.
c. Those on the agenda to speak are limited to the topic in which they inform the board on which they are speaking.
d. Those on the agenda to speak are limited to five (5) minutes unless the board approves additional time.
e. All department heads are placed on the agenda for the first meeting of the month.
f. No one in the audience is allowed to speak unless given the floor by the Board President.
g. Once given the floor, no one is allowed to speak to anyone other than the board.
2. These rules and regulations shall be made available to the public by advertising, posting and other necessary means.
The Order was then adopted with the following Supervisors voting either aye or nay:
District 1 — Hal Hayes — Aye
District 2 — Joe Dyess — Aye
District 3 — Andrew Chapman — Aye
District 4 — Keith Clay — Aye
District 5 — Henry Cooley — Aye
So ordered, this fifth day of February, 2024