NATCHEZ — An Adams County supervisor has been exercising in recent months an option other board members have traditionally passed on — the use of a county vehicle.

Supervisor Ricky Gray has been issued a Ford F150 two-wheel drive pickup, a vehicle purchased at a cost of $22,700.

Gray said that though other board members have passed on the idea of using a county-issued vehicle, the training manual he was given as a newly elected supervisor said board members may have transportation necessary to do their jobs.

“All of the supervisors in Mississippi except Adams County have got trucks,” he said. “(Other Adams County board members) have chosen not to get one— that’s their decision.”

Gray said he needs the vehicle to complete his required driving of all county roads, as well as for travel to conferences and other supervisors’ business. The fuel is paid for using a county gas card, he said.

“Sometimes I have to go to Franklin County, to Brookhaven or Jackson,” he said. “I don’t get mileage when I do that, because I use Adams County’s vehicle when I do that.

“As many miles as I drive, I would have to charge the county for mileage.

“You do have your option to say ‘I am not going to get (the truck), I might do mileage or I might do nothing at all — it comes with this position.”

Gray said he only uses the truck for county business, and parks it at the supervisors’ office when it’s not in use.

“My personal vehicle is for personal business,” he said. “When I finish my job, I park at the county office and get in my personal vehicle.”

The vehicle was purchased through state contract in February, county Purchasing Clerk Frances Bell said, and was done so with the approval of the full board.

“The board allowed for the vehicle to travel,” she said. “They also use this vehicle when they have to travel out of town — they all travel together.”

Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said that while most county supervisors in the state have trucks, “We have always just not even contemplated getting one.”

The request wasn’t one that the board could deny its fellow supervisor, Lazarus said.

“It was within his rights,” he said.

The funds came from the supervisors’ budget, Lazarus said, but weren’t previously budgeted specifically for a vehicle because it is not something for which the board has traditionally planned.