NATCHEZ &8212; Supervisors on Monday closed nomination to fill the Economic Development Authority board position left vacant by the death of Dr. John Lee earlier this year.

&8220;Now we can go ahead and set up interviews&8221; of the candidates, board President Darryl Grennell said, adding that he hopes to set those interviews up next week.

After the meeting, Supervisor Henry Watts emphasized that in many cases the names supervisors submitted as possible candidates for the position were the names of those who had called to express interest in the position.

Nominees include Casey Ann Hughes, the Rev. Leroy White, Stephen Guido, Albert Metcalfe, Johnny Byrne, Mark LaFrancis and Pam Frank. Walter Dennis was interested but has since withdrawn his name, Grennell said.

The EDA is the main agency charged with economic development for Adams County.

In other business, board attorney Bob Latham notified supervisors of attorney general&8217;s opinions that state it&8217;s illegal for supervisors to contribute to events such as the upcoming homecoming celebration for the 155th Infantry.

The local Family Readiness Group had requested $4,000 in county money to help fund the event, which is now scheduled for Jan. 21.

However, Grennell encouraged other supervisors to raise funds on their own to help fund the event and noted that, for others who want to contribute, a Family Readiness Group account at Britton & Koontz First National Bank is accepting donations.

During Monday&8217;s supervisors meeting, Latham himself pledged the first $500 toward the effort.

Also during Monday&8217;s meeting:

4County Administrator Charles Brown reported he&8217;s asking FEMA to reimburse the county $108,000 for Hurricane Katrina-related expenses.

4Supervisors reappointed Thelma Newsome to the Copiah-Lincoln Community College board.

4Supervisors agreed to meet with Civil Defense Director George Souderes to discuss where the county&8217;s next storm warning siren should be placed. County officials said they have the funds to erect one new siren every year.

4Supervisors voted to grant the City of Natchez an easement for an erosion control project behind Susie B. West Apartments.

4Supervisors asked Brown to ask the new owner of the Kingston Road waste transfer station property for a 60-day extension of time for the county to vacate the property.

4The board decided to ask representatives of collection company Receivable Solutions to come to the board&8217;s next meeting. Supervisors said the county&8217;s current collections company, Kennard Inc., owes the county money.